A senior Palestinian official was killed on Wednesday by the Israeli occupation forces during a protest march in the West Bank, medical and security sources told AFP.

A senior Palestinian official was killed on Wednesday by the Israeli occupation forces during a protest march in the West Bank, medical and security sources told AFP.

Ziad Abu Ein, who was in charge of dealing with the issue of Israeli settlements within the Palestinian Authority, "was martyred after being beaten in the chest," said Ahmed Bitawi, the director of the Ramallah hospital.

A Palestinian security source told AFP that Israeli occupation forces beat Abu Ein with the butts of their rifles and their helmets during a protest march in the village of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah.

The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas denounced the "barbaric" action and announced a three-day mourning.