A Palestinian armed with a knife charged at Israeli soldiers on the outskirts of the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Sunday and was shot dead, the Israeli army said.

"An assailant armed with a knife exited his vehicle and charged (at) soldiers at the entrance to Nablus," a statement said.

"Forces thwarted the attempted stabbing attack and shot the assailant, resulting in his death."

An army spokeswoman specified that the assailant was a Palestinian. No injuries among the soldiers were reported.

The Palestinian health ministry identified the person killed as Rami Awartani, 31.

A wave of such incidents began in October, part of violence since that time that has killed at least 219 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

Others were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has faced accusations of excessive force in some cases, allegations it denies.

Source: AFP