WITNESSES have alleged that a Palestinian man shot by Israeli police near Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque yesterday morning was “executed.”

Ibrahim Mattar from the al-Shuqairat area of Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem’s Jabal al-Mukabir district died near the mosque’s Lions’ Gate just before dawn prayers.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri claimed Mr Mattar attacked two border guards with a knife after they stopped him in the street and escorted him to their nearby post.

She said that as two officers struggled with Mr Mattar in a room, a third was able to fend him off before shooting him.

Two officers were hospitalised, one with light and and one with moderate injuries, Ms Samri said.

But witnesses told the Palestinian Maan news agency that Mr Mattar was merely “carrying a stick.”

They said the police forced him out of the post and “executed” him with four shots at point-blank range, killing him immediately.

The witnesses said the police were “controlling the situation” well and could have easily arrested Mr Mattar without resorting to lethal force.

Following the shooting, occupation forces imposed a security crackdown on the Lions’ Gate area from 4.30am to 6am, preventing many Palestinians from attending prayers at the mosque, one of Islam’s three holiest sites.

Police later raided Mr Mattar’s family home in Jabal al-Mukabir, arresting his brother, parents and uncle.

Students and residents clashed with officers, who used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them, the Wafa news agency said.