Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli occupation troops shot dead a suspected Palestinian assailant at the entrance to the occupied West Bank village of Silwad on Friday, the regime’s army said.
“Forces identified a suspect running towards an [army] post in Silwad, northeast of Ramallah,” a spokeswoman said.
“The force shot the suspect, resulting in his death. The incident is currently being reviewed.”
Asked whether the Palestinian had been armed, she said that “the details are still being checked.”
Several Israeli news websites reported that no weapons were found on his body.
Silwad, close to the Jews-only colony of Ofra, is under constant stakeout by the Israeli occupation forces seeking to prevent attacks on passing colonist traffic.
It is the scene of regular clashes between Palestinian stone-throwers and occupation troops.
The Palestinian health ministry identified the dead man as Silwad resident Eyad Hamed, 38, a father of two.
Palestinian security officials said he had a history of mental health problems and had been taking medication.
A neighbour said he heard five shots, then saw soldiers take away Hamed’s body and turn back Palestinian ambulances.
A wave of violence since October has killed 222 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP tally.
Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities claim, with the majority of them from the West Bank.
Palestinian leaders say assailants have acted out of desperation over the collapse of peace talks in 2014 and Israeli settlement expansion in Israeli-occupied territory that Palestinians seek for an independent state. Most countries view the settlements as illegal.
Others have been shot dead during protests while resisting occupation forces.
On Wednesday, a Palestinian man was shot dead after allegedly stabbing an Israeli soldier near Ariel in the northern West Bank.