Palestinian ‘shot dead by Israeli troops’ during West Bank raid

Israeli forces have shot and killed a Palestinian in the West Bank, officials said.

The Palestinian health ministry identified the man as Ayman Mheisen, 29.

The Israeli military said forces operating in the Dheisheh refugee camp in the West Bank city of Bethlehem were pelted with rocks and explosive devices.

Elsewhere, troops demolished the home of Palestinian militant Diaa Hamarsheh, who gunned down Israelis in an attack earlier this year.

A blast from the demolition in the West Bank village of Yaabed lit up the night sky early on Thursday.

Video released by the Israeli military showed soldiers preparing the house for demolition and an explosion ripping through the three-floor building. The military said forces exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen at the scene.

Israel uses home demolitions as a deterrent to prevent further attacks. Critics see the tactic as a form of collective punishment.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians, including a woman who was said to have been carrying a knife.

The events come during a wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence, where a spate of Palestinian attacks set off near-daily arrest raids by Israel in the West Bank.

At least 19 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in recent months. At least 35 Palestinians have been killed by Israel.

Some were gunmen killed in fighting with Israel, while others were shot while allegedly throwing stones or firebombs at Israeli troops in the West Bank.

An unarmed woman and at least two people who appear to have been bystanders were also among those killed.