Two Palestinians martyred by Israel troops in West Bank

Israeli troops martyred two Palestinians in separate shootings in the occupied West Bank Tuesday, the latest in a flurry of deadly clashes as a US envoy tours the region seeking to ease tensions.

A 16-year-old died in an exchange of fire with troops carrying out an arrest raid outside the northern city of Nablus, the Palestinian health ministry and Israeli security forces said.

Separately, a Palestinian in his 20s was martyred in Qalandia outside Jerusalem, the health ministry said.

Teenager Nader Haitham Rayan died in Balata camp near Nablus after being hit by bullets to the head, chest and hand, the ministry said. It did not give further details on the circumstances of his death.

A spokesman for Israel's border police said a Palestinian had been killed.

"A terrorist fired at our troops who responded and killed him," he said.

The exchange of fire came as Israeli troops were leaving the camp after arresting a Palestinian fugitive wanted for alleged terrorism offences.

"Just as they were preparing to exit the camp, a terrorist arrived on a motorbike and fired towards them," the spokesman added.

Rayan's body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag ahead of his burial on Tuesday, during which gunmen fired into the air.

The Palestinian health ministry said another nine people were wounded in the exchanges, one of them seriously.

The second death occurred in Qalandiya, a town on Jerusalem's northern outskirts that hosts the main checkpoint between annexed east Jerusalem and the northern West Bank.

Alaa Shaham, in his 20s, was killed by a "live round to the head", the ministry said.

SOURCE: AFP