Israeli troops kill 15-year-old Palestinian in West Bank

HEBRON - Agence France-Presse

A member of the Israeli security forces aims his weapon during clashes with Palestinian stone throwers in the West Bank city of Hebron, on March 17. AFP photo

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the southern West Bank on March 19, sources on both sides told AFP.

"Yussef Sami Shawamreh, 15, was killed by the Israeli army near the separation barrier, close to Al-Ramadin village," a Palestinian security source said, indicating that the body was still with the army.

He had no further details on the circumstances surrounding the shooting which he said took place close to the barrier on the south-western edge of the West Bank.

The Israeli army confirmed the shooting but said the incident occurred in a separate location, some 10 kilometres (six miles) to the north.

"Earlier today three suspects sabotaged the security fence in Deir al-Asal al-Tahta, southwest of Hebron," a spokeswoman told AFP, saying troops had verbally warned them away from the area then fired warning shots in the air.

When that did not work, troops "fired towards the lower extremities of the main instigator," she said, confirming he was hit.

"He was evacuated to an Israeli hospital where he died of his wounds."

Palestinian sources said the teenager was from the village of Deir al-Asal al-Tahta but insisted the incident had occurred near Al-Ramadin, with the reason for conflicting reports over the location not immediately clear.