Israeli occupation forces today shot and wounded, reportedly critically, a Palestinian man following an alleged stabbing attempt at an intersection near the Gush Etzion settlements bloc, south of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to local sources.

They said Israeli soldiers opened fire at Mohammad Kamal Blu, 27, a resident of Beit Fajjar town, near the junction, critically injuring him purportedly for attempting to stab an Israeli.

The soldiers prevented Palestinian medics from approaching the scene to attend to the Palestinian as he was left bleeding on the ground.