[2][3] Prior to the shooting, there had been three attacks in Jerusalem in 2017: Shortly after 07:00 in the morning on 14 July 2017,[4] three gunmen armed with improvised "carlo" submachine guns and a handgun, ran out of the Temple Mount via the Gate of the Tribes (near the Lions' Gate) and shot at Israeli Border Police officers stationed in the street outside.

[2][5][6] The three attackers fled back to the square in front of one of the mosques on the Temple Mount and were shot by Israeli police officers.

[14] The perpetrators and the mosque they prayed in were identified by Israeli authorities as belonging to the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.

[16] Israeli authorities shut down the Temple Mount complex, and for the first time in years, Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque were canceled.

[19] Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, called on Muslims to march to al-Aqsa and hold Friday prayers wherever they are stopped.

A crisis spiraled leading to a weeklong stand-off, during which Israeli security agencies such as Shin Bet recommended their removal.

[23] Although the compound was reopened for Muslim access, Israeli police prevented Jews from entering the Temple Mount complex under directions from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

[29] On the same day, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the suspension of all official contact with Israel until it removed the new security measures.

Shortly before, al-Abed had written on Facebook that he was upset by the murdering of Palestinian women and children, and the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque.

[40][41][42][43] On the afternoon of July 23, Mohammed Zakaria al-Jawawdeh a 17-year-old Palestinian from Amman, stabbed an Israeli embassy guard in the stomach with a screwdriver.

[45][46][47][48][49][50] On Monday morning, 24 July, a Palestinian man from Qalqiliya stabbed a 32 year old Arab Israeli in Petah Tikva.