Palestinians denounce Israel’s ban restricting them from entering Jerusalem’s Old City

Last night, a Palestinian said to be an Islamist militant killed two Israeli men and wounded a woman and a toddler in a knife and gun attack in the Old City. Police shot dead the attacker.

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In a separate incident early today, a Palestinian stabbed and wounded a passerby in west Jerusalem before being shot dead by police while fleeing.

The attacks came with Israeli security forces already on alert after recent clashes at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and surrounding Old City, as well as the murder in the West Bank of a Jewish settler couple in front of their young children.

The restrictions on the Old City only allow access to Israelis, tourists, residents of the area, business owners and students, police said.

Worship at the sensitive Al-Aqsa mosque compound will be restricted to Old City residents and Arab Israelis, and limited to men aged 50 and above. There will be no age restrictions on women. They will be allowed to enter through one specific gate.