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FILE PHOTO: Israeli soldiers at scene of West Bank stabbing attack Abbas Momani, Credit: AFP Published by Haaretz
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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian teen was reportedly shot by Israeli forces after allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack in the southern occupied West Bank on Friday.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that an "assailant" attempted to carry out a stabbing attack against soldiers stationed at the Elias junction near the illegal settlement of Kiryat Arba in the West Bank district of Hebron, when he was shot by soldiers.

The young Palestinian was receiving treatment for their injuries, the spokesperson added. Israeli media reported that the Palestinian had been shot in the stomach, and was suffering from moderate to critical wounds.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the injured teen as Usama Murad Jamil Marie Zeidat, 15.

The army spokesperson told Ma'an that no Israelis were injured in the alleged attempted attack.

Israeli media reported that another Palestinian was with the Zeidat but fled the scene, with Israeli forces reportedly searching for them.

Seven Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the Hebron district since Sept. 15, after a period of relative calm since a wave of unrest spread across the occupied territory nearly a year ago, which has seen 230 Palestinians killed by Israelis and 32 Israelis killed by Palestinians.

The Hebron area in particular grew as the epicenter of upheaval, with Israeli authorities severely restricting the movement of Palestinians in parts of Hebron's Old City as a "closed military zone" for several months, while July’s closures in Hebron saw the most widespread restrictions on movement in the occupied West Bank in two years.

While Israel alleges many of those were attempting to attack Israelis when they were shot, Palestinians and rights groups have disputed Israel's version of events in a number of cases.

Israel has also come under repeated criticism for failing to carry out due process in response to alleged and actual attacks, particularly in regard to the apparent extrajudicial executions of Palestinians who did not pose a threat when they were killed.

In the wake of the past week's violence, the Israeli army deployed an additional battalion to the Hebron district, while an Israeli army officer vowed strict punitive measures would be imposed on Palestinian civilians in the area.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have detained a number of Palestinians across the occupied West Bank for allegedly being in possession of knives in recent months amid the violence, many of them minors.
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According to Israeli army 'terrorist attempted a stabbing attack in the hitchhiking post. None were injured. The terrorist was shot by IDF security forces.'

by Yotam Berger and Gili Cohen for Haaretz
Sep 23, 2016 12:37 PM

An alleged stabbing attack was thwarted Friday in the West Bank, the Israeli army said.

According to initial reports, a 14-year-old Palestinian was shot while attempting a stabbing attack near the settlement of Kiryat Arba, outside of Hebron.

According to an army statement, "a terrorist attempted a stabbing attack in the hitchhiking post of the Elias Junction. None were injured. The terrorist was shot by IDF security forces stationed at the post. He is now being treated on the scene." The teenage assailant was shot in his leg and is said to be in serious condition.

On Wednesday, a 13-year-old Palestinian girl was shot and lightly wounded after refusing to stop at a checkpoint and acting suspiciously. Sappers who searched the girl's bag found no traces of explosives or weapons.

On Tuesday, a Palestinian attempted to stab an Israeli soldier outside the Palestinian town of Bani Naim, the military said. The suspected attacker was shot and killed without any casualties among the soldiers.

The incident is the latest in a spate of attacks and attempted attacks against Israelis in the West Bank.