Aftermath of terrorist attack in Jerusalem's Old City
Aftermath of terrorist attack in Jerusalem's Old CityYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

The Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist groups on Friday welcomed the attack on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, in which two Israeli police officers were murdered.

The attack was carried out by three terrorists from the Arab Israeli town of Umm al-Fahm.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that "the Al-Quds operation is a natural response to Israeli terrorism and the defilement of the Al-Aqsa Mosque (by the mere Jewish presence there)."

Another spokesman, Hazem Qassem, said the attack was a natural response to "the very presence of the occupation on Palestinian land and the theft of the holy places of our people."

"Today's operation proves that all the terror of the occupation and its crimes, including killing and executions at checkpoints, house demolitions, arrests and besieging of cities will not stop the intifada of our people and will not prevent it from continuing its struggle against the occupation,” he added.

The Islamic Jihad terror group also praised the “heroic attack” saying it was part of the “demonstrations of courage of our people against occupying forces that must now beware to cross a red line.”

(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)