A Palestinian man was killed during confrontations involving Israeli settlers and security forces in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said on Thursday.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah confirmed the death of a 24-year-old man in the northern West Bank village of Tayasir.

According to Palestinian media reports, the man was shot on Wednesday evening after Israeli settlers entered the village, sparking clashes with local residents.

The reports allege that an Israeli soldier opened fire during the confrontation.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli soldiers prevented its rescue teams from reaching the wounded man.

In a statement, the Israeli military said troops were deployed to the area following reports of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli civilians.

It said stones were thrown during the incident, injuring one Israeli civilian and one Palestinian civilian.

The army added that an off-duty soldier fired at a Palestinian who had allegedly been throwing stones at Israeli civilians.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting are under investigation.

The incident comes amid a broader rise in violence in the West Bank since the outbreak of the Gaza war more than two and a half years ago.

There has been an increase in reported attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and their property, drawing criticism from rights groups and prompting some Israeli media to refer to the phenomenon as “Jewish terror”.

Israeli security forces have repeatedly faced accusations of failing to act decisively to prevent such violence and, in some cases, of siding with settlers.

Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle Eastern War.

About 700,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the territory, which is also home to roughly three million Palestinians.

Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in these territories, with East Jerusalem as their capital. 

(dpa/NAN)