Israeli troops kill Palestinian in clash

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager yesterday during a confrontation in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said.

Security officials said that troops entered the village of Beit Rima, near Ramallah, after midnight and were confronted by stone-throwing youths.

The Palestinian health ministry said that Ahmed Hazem Atta, 19, was killed in the ensuing army fire.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that there was a “violent riot” at Beit Rima but could not confirm the death.

“Dozens of rioters hurled rocks at security forces injuring a border police soldier.

“In order to prevent an escalation of violence forces responded with riot dispersal means, and fired toward main instigators,” she said.

“We have reports of a rioter killed and another injured and they’re being looked into, but were so far unverified,” the spokeswoman told AFP.

Since October 2015, 244 Palestinians, 36 Israelis, two Americans, a Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have been killed, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some died in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. — AFP