On 3 October 2015, a Palestinian resident of al-Bireh attacked the Benita family near the Lions' Gate in Jerusalem, as they were on their way to the Western Wall to pray.

The attack came during the 2015–2016 wave of violence in Israeli-Palestinian conflict regarded by The Guardian as having begun in mid-September when a number of Palestinians "repeatedly barricaded themselves inside the al-Aqsa mosque and hurled stones, firebombs and fireworks at the police.

[3][4][5] This period has also seen the increasing prevalence of Jewish "price tag" operations, such as the arson attack that murdered three members of the Dawabsheh family in the West Bank village of Duma about two months ago.

[6] According to The Guardian, many analysts regard the issue of access to what is known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as the Temple Mount, as key to the recent increase in tension in Jerusalem.

[9] Aaron and Adele Benita and their two small children in strollers, were on their way to the Western Wall to pray,[10] when 19 year old Muhanad Shafeq Halabi from Al-Bireh started attacking and stabbing them, killing Aaron, critically wounding Adele and wounding 2 year old Matan, then stabbed Rabbi Nehemia Lavie who, hearing them scream for help, ran out of his house and tried to help them.

During the assault, the attacker took a pistol from Lavie, and fired at pedestrians, until he was shot and killed by a police officer who had rushed to the scene.

"[27] On 4 October a male Palestinian teenager attacked 15-year-old Israeli Moshe Malka with a knife,[28] wounding him before being shot and killed by police.

[30] According to the New York Times, the video shows Alon fleeing after he had, "stabbed and wounded," the 15-year-old Jewish boy, with Israeli civilians chasing him and yelling, "Shoot him!

"[31] Release of Alon's body for burial was delayed by Israel authorities after mourners called him a "martyr," and declared that his funeral would be, "a national celebration.

[34][35] The attacker was Shurooq Dweiyat, 18, from the Palestinian neighborhood of Sur Baher,[36] a student at Bethlehem University who began collecting donations for the families of "“martyrs" the week before she stabbed an Israeli.

[25] Ma'an news agency reported that witnesses saw an Israeli man opened fire at the teenager in the al-Wad Street in the Old City, a few meters away from the Council Gate leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

[30] Dozens of protesters demonstrated against the restrictions near the Al-Aqsa mosque before being dispersed by Israeli forces, with several injured due to smoke inhalation.

[45] Prime Minister Netanyahu also announced a ban on both Arab and Jewish politicians entering the site in an effort to reduce tensions.