Palestinian teenager shot dead by Israeli soldiers in West Bank: ministry

RAMALLAH -- A Palestinian teenager was killed, and another two injured on Thursday by Israeli soldiers in a village east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilya, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a press statement.

Mohamed Islim, 15, died after he was shot in the back by Israeli soldiers who stormed the village of Azzun, the statement read.

Of the two injured teenagers, one was in serious conditions and has been admitted to the intensive care unit at the governmental hospital in the city, where doctors tried to save his life, according to the statement.

The statement didn't add more details. However, Qalqilya's governor Rafeh Rawajbeh told Xinhua that Israeli soldiers opened fire at the teenagers during clashes that broke out near the city's main road.

"It is an awful crime that should be condemned as Israeli forces directly targeted the boys," he said.

The Israeli authorities didn't comment on the teenager's death. Israeli Radio, which quoted Israeli army sources, reported that the Israeli soldiers opened fire at the Palestinians after they threw Molotov cocktail bottles at Israeli settlers near Qalqilya.

Islim's death came amid mounting tension between Israelis and the Palestinians that has been going on since Jan. 1.

Official Palestinian figures show that 68 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers so far this year. Meanwhile, official Israeli figures reveal that 13 Israelis were killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians.