Israeli forces have shot and injured a Palestinian woman for allegedly attempting a stabbing attack at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri claimed in a statement that the unnamed 30-year-old woman walked towards Israeli troopers at the Qalandiya checkpoint on Monday, using the vehicle-only lane.

Samri added that the woman was "all the time clutching her handbag in a way that made them suspicious,” prompting Israeli forces to open fire.

She said that the victim was lightly wounded in the shooting, without providing any information as whether there were any suspect items in the Palestinian woman’s handbag.

Israeli forces secure the main entrance of the Qalandiyya checkpoint, a main crossing point between Jerusalem al-Quds and the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, on April 27, 2016. (Photo by AP)

The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed fresh tensions ever since Israel imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem al-Quds in August 2015.

Nearly 280 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since the beginning of October that year. A total of 41 Israelis have died as well.