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ETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces shot and critically injured a 22-year-old Palestinian woman on Monday after she allegedly stabbed an Israeli settler near Gush Etzion in the southern West Bank.

Palestinian sources identified the woman as 22-year-old Amal Jamal Taqatqa from the nearby town of Beit Fajjar.

The Israeli settler suffered minor injuries in the stabbing at a major crossroads near the Gush Etzion bloc, south of Bethlehem, the Israeli army said in a statement.

Israeli police said in an initial statement that the woman was shot after stabbing a soldier.

"Security forces on site overpowered the suspect and transferred her for further medical assistance," the statement said.

Eyewitnesses said a group of Israeli soldiers opened fire heavily at Taqatqa from a distance of around 20 meters.

She was shot four times and taken to Hadassah hospital, where she is said to be in a critical condition.

Witnesses said Israeli forces prevented the Palestinian Red Crescent from reaching her following the shooting.

Local sources said she was probably questioned by the Israeli army on her hospital bed.

Locals in Beit Fajjar told Ma'an that over 30 Israeli military vehicles stormed the town shortly after the incident and ransacked Taqatqa's family home.

Taqatqa's family denied claims that she attempted to stab an Israeli and said the Israeli army deliberately targeted her and shot her in cold blood.

AFP contributed to this report
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by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli sources have reported, Monday, that a young Palestinian woman was shot and seriously wounded, at the Etzion settlement junction, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, allegedly after she stabbed a female Israeli settler, causing a mild injury.

The young Palestinian woman has been identified as Amal Fakhri Taqatqa, 22 years of age, from Beit Fajjar town, near Bethlehem. Taqatqa is a former political prisoner.

The Palestinian woman was shot by at least four live rounds to different parts of her body, and was moved to the Hadassah Israeli Hospital, in occupied Jerusalem, suffering life-threatening wounds.

Eyewitnesses said the soldiers prevented Palestinian ambulances and medics from entering the area.

Israeli sources said the settler, 19 years of age, suffered a mild injury, and received treatment by Israeli medics at the scene, as her condition did not require hospitalization.

In related news, soldiers kidnapped a young Palestinian man, from the northern West Bank city of Nablus, allegedly after searching him and finding a concealed knife.

Local sources said the young man, 18 years of age, was trying to cross the Tapoah military roadblock. He was moved to an Israeli security center for interrogation.