The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces had killed a 13 year-old Palestinian boy Tuesday near Ramallah, a West Bank city. The Israeli army said that its forces fired at Palestinians who hurled rocks at their vehicles.

Ghassan Gharib was killed in Deir Abu Massh'al, a town in the West Bank occupied. According to the official Palestinian WAFA, Israeli forces shot and critically wounded Zahran after opening fire on several children.

The injured man was taken to the Palestinian Medical Complex at Ramallah, where he succumbed shortly thereafter.

In a press release, the Israeli military stated that a number Palestinians "hurled stones at Israeli vehicles in proximity to Deir Abu Masha'al." Israeli security forces responded at the scene by firing on the terrorists. One of the terrorists has been hit."

The violence in the West Bank, which has escalated for over two years, increased in intensity after Hamas fighters from Gaza launched an attack against Israel in October last year. Reporting by Ali Sawafta and Nuha Sharaf; Editing Alexandra Hudson