Israeli occupation soldiers shot dead a 19-year-old Palestinian north of the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

Israeli occupation soldiers shot dead a 19-year-old Palestinian north of the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

The shooting, which took place just north of the Ofra settlement, was confirmed by the occupation army in a statement that claimed the Palestinian had opened fire at troops and they had returned fire, hitting him.

Palestinian sources identified the martyr as Mohammad Mubarak, 19, from Jalazun refugee camp.

Palestinian sources said Mubarak was working as a laborer on a USAID project in the area. His father is local-elected leader of the Jalazun camp, they said.

It was the first time this year that a Palestinian has been killed by Israeli troops in the West Bank. Last year, 27 West Bankers were killed by the army, UN statistics show.