A knife used in a stabbing attack in Israel. Photo: IDF Spokesman.

JNS.org – Israeli security forces foiled a terrorist attack Thursday morning in the West Bank, Hebrew media outlets reported.

According to the reports, a Palestinian youth arrived at the Tapuach Junction by bus before reportedly approaching Israeli Border Police personnel stationed at a nearby security checkpoint. He refused to heed their calls to stop, drew a knife and charged at the officer closest to him. The troops engaged and shot the suspect.

The youth, identified as Mahmad Jad Hassin Harb, 18, from Qalqilya, west of Nablus, was critically wounded and died at the scene.

The West Bank has seen numerous attacks on Israeli troops and officers over the past year.

On Wednesday, the Shin Bet security agency revealed that the members of a terrorist cell implicated in multiple shooting incidents in the area had been apprehended. The cell included three Palestinians, all minors, who carried out at least four shooting attacks in October and November against Israeli troops stationed near the Samaria community of Ofra.

The operation to apprehend the terrorists was carried out jointly by Israel Defense Forces troops and Shin Bet agents. During raids on the suspects’ homes, troops seized vehicles and weapons used in the attacks. Several of the suspects’ relatives have also been detained on suspicion of concealing illegal weapons.

“The cell’s actions, as exposed during its members’ interrogations, demonstrate the serious threat posed by such terrorist cells, which operate as local initiatives and have access to weapons and weapon production abilities,” a Shin Bet statement said.