A Palestinian youth was killed yesterday and dozens of protesters were injured during clashes with Israeli troops at the Fawwar refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.
The dead youth was named Mohamed Abu Hashhash, according to Hebron hospital official Walid Zaloum, who said Abu Hashhash was killed by a bullet that entered through his back and struck above his heart.
The Palestinian health ministry said he was 17 years old.
Abu Hashhash is the first Palestinian fatality this month in a confrontation with Israeli forces.
The forces surrounded the camp early yesterday and began questioning residents and searching homes, the agency said, citing locals.
Groups of residents threw stones and explosive devices at the soldiers, who were at the refugee camp to conduct a weapons search, according to the Israeli army.
The soldiers responded by using riot dispersal methods, including tear gas, and firing .22-calibre rounds.
At least five Palestinians were taken to a local hospital in Yatta for their injuries, the official Palestinian Wafa news agency said.
An ambulance transporting a young man who had been seriously injured in the scuffles was allegedly stopped by Israeli forces from leaving the camp for about an hour, the Maan agency said, citing locals.