Israeli troops kill unarmed Palestinian 'running towards' base

Israeli troops shot dead a reportedly unarmed Palestinian man at the entrance to the village of Silwad in the occupied West Bank on Friday, the army said.

"Forces identified a suspect running towards an [army] post in Silwad, northeast of Ramallah," a spokeswoman said. "The force shot the suspect, resulting in his death."

A relative of the dead man identified him as Silwad resident Iyad Hamed, 37, a father of two.

The pro-Israeli website ynetnews said the soldiers were from the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion within the Kfir Brigade.

The report said Hamed was unarmed and nothing was found on his body.

Palestinian security officials told the AFP news agency he had a history of mental health problems and had been taking medication.

A neighbour told AFP he heard five shots, then saw soldiers take away Hamed's body and turn back Palestinian ambulances.

Silwad, close to the Jewish settlement of Ofra, is under constant protection of the Israeli army seeking to prevent attacks.

The shooting took place on the road leading past the village to Ofra, the dead man's brother-in-law told the AFP news agency. 

It is the scene of regular clashes between Palestinian stone throwers and troops.

A wave of violence since October has killed 222 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP tally.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say, with the majority of them from the West Bank.

Others have been shot dead during protests and clashes with security forces.