Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen in West Bank

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories - Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teenager near the West Bank city of Ramallah Friday, Palestinian officials said, as the forces said they shot a "suspect" after being attacked with "explosives".

"A citizen died of critical wounds sustained by live bullets from the occupation (Israel) to the head," in an incident in the village of Umm Safa, near Ramallah, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The ministry named the deceased as Mohammed Al-Bayed, 17, in a later statement.

Israeli border police meanwhile said in a statement a "violent disturbance" had broken out "during which suspects threw stones and explosives" at Israeli forces.

"A security guard responded by shooting at a suspect who threw a bomb," the police statement said, adding that "a hit was detected".

An Israeli soldier was "slightly injured" by shrapnel during the clash, the statement said.

The incident came amid rising tensions in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War.

The territory has recently seen a string of Palestinian attacks targeting Israeli forces or settlers, and a surge in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

Violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year has killed at least 197 Palestinians, 27 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources from both sides.

They include, on the Palestinian side, combatants and civilians, and on the Israeli side, mostly civilians and three members of the Arab minority.

The West Bank is home to nearly three million Palestinians, as well as around 490,000 Israelis who live in settlements considered illegal under international law. - AFP