"Today, a Palestinian rushed in the direction of an Israeli soldier shouting Allahu Akhbar (God is greatest) and trying to stab him. The soldier opened fire and wounded him in the leg," the Israeli military spokeswoman told AFP.

"The Palestinian was evacuated to an Israeli hospital and an investigation has been opened," she added.

The military said the incident occurred near the Ariel settlement in the northern West Bank, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus. In January, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian man at the Hamra checkpoint northeast of Nablus.

Initial reports claimed the man had tried to stab soldiers but the military later said troops had opened fire when the man entered an unauthorised lane at the checkpoint, apparently wielding a bottle.