By Anees Bargouti

RAMALLAH,  (AA): A Palestinian child was killed by Israeli gunfire during clashes that erupted in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that Israeli troops had shot a Palestinian minor dead during clashes that broke out between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces near the Al-Aroub refugee camp near the West Bank city of Hebron (Al-Khalil).

According to the ministry, Omar Yousef Madhi Jawabra, 15, was killed at the entrance of the camp after being struck by a bullet fired by an Israeli sniper.

Dr Sharif at-Tarda, head of the Emergency Unit at the al-Mezan Hospital in Hebron, said the child was shot in the chest, and that the bullet penetrated his heart and exited from the left side.

Surgeons and specialists attempted to save his life, but he died of his serious wounds, at-Tarda added.

According to ministry figures, Wednesday’s death brings the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since Oct. 1 of last year to 170, including 35 minors.

Over the same period, around 15,000 Palestinians have been injured, roughly half of them by live ammunition and rubber bullets, the ministry added.

The Israeli authorities, meanwhile, allege that more than 170 knife attacks, 44 shooting attacks and 33 vehicular attacks have been carried out by Palestinians against Israelis over the same period, leaving 30 Israelis dead and more than 340 injured.

Additional reporting by Imemc

[Photo: Omar Jawabra, 15, shot dead by Israeli forces. Photo by Imemc]