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Photo:
An image released by the Israeli army purportedly showing the gun used by the teenager during the attack.
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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Israeli army said Saturday it had detained a 16-year-old Palestinian who it says "confessed" to shooting an Israeli soldier outside Beit Einun east of Hebron the day before.

An Israeli army spokesperson said that the teenager from the village of Bani Naim northeast of Hebron was detained overnight and had since confessed to the carrying out the shooting. She said that he had "handed in" the weapon he used.

The Israeli soldier was severely wounded in the attack that took place at a road junction outside Beit Einun on Friday evening, the spokesperson said.

Palestinian witnesses told Ma'an at the time that they had heard sporadic exchanges of gunfire in the area, with Israeli forces shouting loudly.

Large numbers of military forces arrived in Beit Einun following the incident, and continued military activity was reported at the main village entrance on Saturday.

Rights groups have alleged in the past that Palestinian detainees are often held arbitrarily and charged after forced confession under interrogation and use of false evidence.