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Photo:
File photo, published by Maan News
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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces detained a teenage Palestinian girl allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack near Qalqiliya in the northern occupied West Bank on Monday, Israeli media reported.

According to Channel 10, the alleged attempted attack took place near an Israeli border police base in the area, adding that the Israeli forces fired into the air before detaining her.

Witnesses identified the teenager to Ma'an as 16-year-old Eiman Jalal, and said that she was wearing her school uniform when she was detained.

An Israeli police spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

Israeli forces have detained a number of Palestinians for allegedly being in possession of knives in recent months following a spate of attacks by Palestinians which has left some 34 Israelis dead since October.

In the same time period, 244 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers. 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.

Israeli forces have come under heavy criticism over the past year over their often deadly use of force against Palestinians suspected of attempting attacks who did not pose an immediate threat or who could have been detained through non-lethal means.