A Palestinian ran toward Israeli security forces brandishing a knife in the northern West Bank on Thursday and was shot dead, the Israeli army said.

"During routine security activity in Hawwara, forces spotted a suspect and approached in order to question him," it said in a statement of the incident near Nablus in an area where Israeli settlers and Palestinians cross a military checkpoint. 

The army said the man ran towards the soldiers, who opened fire, "resulting in his death."