Update: Israeli forces kill two Palestinians in alleged stabbing attempt in West Bank

Two Palestinians were shot dead on Monday by Israeli soldiers in the southern West Bank town of Hebron, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

The ministry added in a statement that it was informed by the Israeli side that two Palestinians were shot dead near the Ibrahimi Mosque in the town.

It identified the victims as Mohanad al-Rajabi, 21, and his brother Amir al-Rajabi, 17.

Earlier in the day, Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the two Palestinian men approached paramilitary Border Police and pulled out a knife at them.

"The Border Police officers opened fire toward the terrorists," she said, adding that as a result of the fire, one man was dead, and the other sustained severe injuries.

Samri said no Israelis were injured in the incident.

Also on Monday, a Palestinian youth was critically wounded after he was shot by Israeli police in East Jerusalem after he allegedly stabbed two Israeli police and critically wounded one of them, who is a female.

Violence since mid-September has claimed the lives of at least 230 Palestinians and 34 Israelis. Israel says that most of the Palestinians were killed amidst stabbing, car-ramming, and shooting attacks.

The Palestinians and human rights organizations say that Israel is using excessive force to quell the uprising, and in many cases kill Palestinians who could be stopped without using lethal force or were mistaken to be attackers.

Israeli leaders accuse the Palestinian National Authority of "inciting" the unrest, while the Palestinians say it is the result of 49 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, home to more than 5 million Palestinians, where they wish to establish their state. Endit