JERUSALEM, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army said a soldier thwarted a stabbing attack after they shot a knife-wielding Palestinian in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Monday.

The incident took place at Elias Junction, adjacent to Kiryat Arba, an Israeli settlement east of Hebron city.

"An IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldier thwarted this attack after he identified a terrorist attempting to stab civilians and an IDF officer," the military said in a statement. In response, the soldier fired towards the suspect and "neutralized" him, the statement.

An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed to Xinhua that the suspect was injured and taken to custody for further questioning.

The violence came about two weeks after Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian after he stabbed and injured a soldier in Hebron.

Tensions around Gaza have been high since Gazans launched an ongoing protest against the blockade on March 30.

Over the past seven months, Israeli forces killed at least 156 Palestinians during the protests against the crippling blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since 2007.