Two Israeli police officers have died after being shot by Palestinian gunmen near the Lion’s Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, with a third injured.

The terrorists are believed have come from the Al Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount compound before carrying out the attack earlier this morning.

Israeli police pursued the terrorists back onto the compound and are believed to have shot and killed the attackers.

The Temple Mount is usually open for Islamic Friday prayers, but was sealed off after the attack. Both of the police officers killed are believed to have come from Israel's Druze community.

A spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, confirmed he "held an update call a short while ago following the attack. The defense and public security ministers, the chief of staff, the head of the Shin Bet security service, the police chief and Yoav Mordechai, the government's coordinator in the territories, took part.

"It was decided to shutter the Temple Mount today for security reasons. Searches will be carried out to ensure that there are no more weapons on the Temple Mount. The status quo on the Temple Mount will be preserved.”

The status quo on the Temple Mount, which has been in effect since 1967, allows Muslims to conduct prayers there, while banning Jews from doing so.

A number of right-wing Members of Knesset urged the government to change that arrangement, with MK Eli Dahan (Jewish Home) linking the attacks to Monday’s Unesco decision to refer to the Tomb of the Patriarchs as a Palestinian heritage site.

“This began with the Unesco decision that the Tomb of the Patriarchs is a Palestinian heritage site and continues today with this attempt by three Palestinian terrorists on the Temple Mount,” he said

“Faced with this effort, Israel must bolster its rule and control over the [holy sites], and to ensure that all Jews can pray there at any time in safety.”