World Bulletin / News Desk

An Israeli military force has besieged the West Bank home of a Palestinian youth suspected of stabbing an Israeli soldier in the northern Israeli city of Afula, eyewitnesses said Wednesday.

The Israeli force stormed the village of Bir al-Basha, some 15km southwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, imposing a blockade around it, eyewitnesses said.

Troops also besieged the home of the young man, Hussein Ghawadra, while interrogators questioned his parents, they added.

Earlier Wednesday, Israeli media reported that an Israeli soldier had succumbed to his injuries after being stabbed several times by a young Palestinian at Afula's central bus station.

"The soldier, who was on his way to his army base when the attack occurred, was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds," Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

Israel's northern police commander, Ronny Attia, told Israeli Army Radio that Ghawadra had carried out the attack because he had relatives languishing in Israeli jails.

Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said that Ghawadra, who is only 16 years old, was in Israeli custody.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, Ghawadra was arrested and charged with stabbing the soldier. The young man has two cousins imprisoned by Israel, both of whom are currently serving life sentences, the club said.