Israeli forces kill Palestinian teenager over alleged stabbing attempt

A 19-year old Palestinian woman was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday for allegedly approaching a West Bank military checkpoint with a knife, Israeli police said.

The woman was later identified as Rahiq Shaji Birawi from Asira al-Shimaliya, a village north of Nablus.

She allegedly ignored orders to stop at the checkpoint and pulled out a knife, Israeli police said.

"At this point the officers shot her," police said, adding that she was killed.

The Palestinian health ministry said "a woman was killed after being shot by the occupation forces at Zaatara checkpoint."

On Sunday, Israeli forces closed off the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip for the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

Palestinians were barred from entering al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem, as concerns rose over whether visits to a sensitive holy site in occupied Jerusalem could lead to violence.

Violence since October 2015 has killed at least 234 Palestinians and 36 Israelis.

Israeli forces have been accused of using excessive force in many cases.

Israel denies such charges, claiming stringent "security measures" were necessary to counter attacks. It claims that a Palestinian campaign of incitement is fanning the violence.

Palestinians say the rise in knife attacks on Israeli soldiers is rooted in frustration stemming from nearly five decades of Israeli military occupation.