Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian man in West Bank raid

Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank shot dead a Palestinian who they said attacked them with a knife during an operation overnight on Tuesday to arrest suspected militants.

The shooting happened at al-Fara refugee camp, northeast of the city of Nablus. A Palestinian official in the camp said the man tried to prevent the soldiers from entering his home and was shot.

"Overnight, an assailant, armed with a knife, attempted to stab soldiers on operational activity to arrest suspects," the Israeli army said.

"Forces called the attacker to halt and, upon his continued advance, fired toward him, resulting in his death."

It added that others in the camp hurled explosives and shot at the soldiers.

Khaled Mansour, an official in the camp, identified the dead man as Mohammed al-Salhi, 32.

Mansour told AFP Salhi had tried to prevent the soldiers entering his house before being shot six times.

Since October 2015, 248 Palestinians, 40 Israelis, two Americans, a Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have been killed, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. 

Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some died in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, comatose peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest.

Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a leading cause.

The al-Fara shooting occurred less than 48 hours after a Palestinian rammed a truck into troops visiting a Jerusalem tourist site, killing four soldiers in a stark reminder of tensions despite a recent lull in violence.

The attacker was shot dead at the scene.