Palestinian shot dead by Israeli settler after stones thrown

An Israeli settler shot dead a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank on Thursday after a group of Israelis was targeted by Palestinian stone-throwers, officials said.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the Palestinian was killed after being shot by an Israeli settler.

It named him as Mohammed Zaal, 45, from the village of Qusra near where the shooting took place.

The Israeli army said the settler opened fire after the group was targeted with stones near Qusra in the northern West Bank.

"An army unit then arrived in the location and provided medical assistance to the Palestinians while providing security to the hikers," a spokesman said.

Tensions run high between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Qusra is located near the Israeli settlement of Migdalim.

Israeli public radio said the hike had been organised to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah for young settlers from the area.

One of the fathers accompanying them opened fire with his private weapon, the report said.

Since a wave of violence began in October 2015, at least 309 Palestinians or Arab Israelis, 51 Israelis and seven foreigners have been killed in the series of attacks, according to an AFP count.

Israeli authorities say that most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks.

Others were shot dead in protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza.

Violence has subsided greatly in recent months.