Palestinians: West Bank teen wounded by Israeli gunfire dies

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — A 13-year-old Palestinian died on Friday after being shot by Israeli troops during clashes with a stone-throwing crowd in the occupied West Bank, the official Palestinian news agency reported.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Ali Abu Alia was hit in the stomach and died later at a hospital. The Wafa news agency showed a photograph of the teen being carried away following the clashes in the village of Almugayer, northeast of the city of Ramallah.

The Israeli military said “dozens of rioters” hurled rocks at Israeli soldiers and border police, who responded with “riot dispersal means.” It denied that its forces used live ammunition.

Clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces entering Palestinian-controlled areas of the occupied West Bank are common. The military often raids Palestinian towns to arrest people suspected of planning or taking part in attacks.

Tensions are also high around the Israeli settlements. Over 400,000 settlers live in the West Bank, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Mideast war.