Jerusalem: Jordanian man shot dead after stabbing Israeli policeman

A Jordanian citizen was killed on Saturday afternoon in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem after he stabbed and injured an Israeli policeman.

Eyewitnesses and media sources had earlier said that a Palestinian stabbed an Israeli policeman notorious for assaulting and harassing Palestinian women during their visit to the Aqsa Mosque.

They added that the Palestinian was gunned down and left to bleed to death, adding that Israeli paramedics only provided medical assistance to the policeman.

However, Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said that the attacker was a 57-year-old Jordanian citizen who arrived a week ago with a tourist visa.

Local media sources, meanwhile, identified the Jordanian citizen as Mohammed Abdullah al-Kasaji.

Kasaji is the second Jordanian citizen to be killed by Israeli forces since the eruption of the Jerusalem Intifada in October 2015. The first was Sa’eed al-Amr, who was killed at one of the gates of the Aqsa Mosque in September 2016.

The Israeli police said the policeman was moderately wounded and transferred to Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem.

Israeli police Saturday shot and killed a Palestinian near Chain’s Gate inside Jerusalem’s Old City. The Palestinian was not immediately identified.

The stabbing came shortly after an Israeli policeman had shot dead another Palestinian outside Chain’s gate, under the pretext of a stabbing attack.

The policeman received moderate injuries, said the police.

According to WAFA news agency, Palestinians said the policeman who was attacked was known for his hatred of Arabs and racism and that he was involved in assaulting Palestinians in the Old City and inside the mosque.

Police attacked Palestinians in the area following the alleged stabbing and closed gates to the Old City preventing people from entering of leaving it.

Palestinian centers said Israeli security has killed 309 Palestinians since October 2015 when a wave of stabbing attacks started against Israelis in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and inside Israel.

Most of the Palestinians were killed after alleged stabbing or car ramming attack but a large number were also killed by Israeli soldiers during clashes or army raids in the West Bank.

Source: PNN