Hijazi worked in restaurant where Glick was shot

Mu'taz al-Hijazi, the man killed by Israeli forces in the Thawri neighbourhood of Jerusalem this morning, was suspected of being behind yesterday's alleged assassination of Yehuda Glick, a prominent right-wing activist calling for Jewish prayer to be allowed at al-Aqsa Mosque. 

Glick was shot by a suspect riding a motorcycle as he gave a speech outside the Menachem Begin Centre in East Jerusalem.

Hijazi worked at the centre's restaurant, the Reuters correspondent in Palestine reported on Thursday morning.

There are reports of fierce clashes in the area surrounding Hijazi's home, after he was killed in a shoot-out with Israeli forces.

Dan Cohen, an independent journalist who visited the Hijazi family home after the killing, reported that he had been forced off the roof of the house by tear gas "pouring throughout the neighbourhood."

The Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld alleged that "shots were fired" at security forces as they raided Hijazi's home this morning.

Eye-witnesses Cohen spoke to say that the "weapon" Hijazi was holding was a power tool, not a gun.

Hijazi was released in 2012 after serving 11 years in an Israeli prison, including some 10 in solitary confinement.

On his release, Hijazi said in a video interview: "I am very happy to be released… But what I am happiest about is being able to return to Jerusalem…and al-Aqsa with my family and my people.”