Two Israel Police officers were moderately injured in a stabbing attack near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City on Monday evening, with Hamas taking responsibility for the attack.
According to police, the attacker exited the Temple Mount, pulled out a knife and assaulted the two police officers. The officers responded by shooting at the terrorist, killing him. The two officers were transferred for medical treatment.
The attack happened near the Cotton Merchants' Gate, one of the entrances to the Temple Mount.
The area was cordoned off and large police forces arrived at the scene and began collecting evidence. A situation assessment was carried out at the scene by Jerusalem police district head Doron Turgeman and Border Police Commander Amir Cohen.
Hamas took responsibility for the attack later in the evening, saying that the terrorist, who was from Jalazone, a Palestinian village near Beit El, was a member of the organization.
"The successive resistance operations in occupied Jerusalem ignite the fire under the feet of the occupation, and warn it not to commit more foolishness and intrusion against Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa," said Hamas.
The attack on Monday evening comes just a day after a stabbing attack targeted police officers near Bab al-Huta in Jerusalem's Old City.
"Terrorists and extreme elements will continue to attempt to ignite the area and Jerusalem's policemen and policewoman will continue to be alert and prepared," Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev wrote on Twitter on Monday.
"Once again a disaster was avoided due to a quick and determined response. I wish a speedy recovery to the two injured officers," he wrote.
Turgeman, Cohen and Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai decided on Monday evening to provide reinforcements to the Old City district, with dozens of Border Police and Israel Police officers to join the forces already in the area in the near future, according to KAN news.
During March, a Border Police battalion operating in the Old City will receive 50 additional officers who will operate through Ramadan, which is set to begin in April this year.
Tzvi Joffre contributed to this report.