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.