A Palestinian rioter hurls stones toward Israeli troops near the West Bank city of Nablus, Dec. 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Mohamad Torokman.

Two Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli troops during clashes on Thursday in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, according to Palestinian medical sources and witnesses.

A 16-year-old Palestinian was reportedly killed and two others wounded in a disturbance near the Israel-Gaza border fence in which rioters threw stones at IDF troops.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said violence had erupted at two locations along the Gaza border and some 50 Palestinians had participated, hurling rocks and rolling burning tires that endangered troops, who responded with warning shots followed by directed fire.

“Warning shots were fired at one location, but when the rioting continued, shots were fired at three main instigators who posed a threat to the soldiers and to the security fence,” the spokeswoman said.

A second Palestinian 16-year-old was killed in a clash at the village of Bureen near the town of Nablus in the West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

The spokeswoman said troops searching the area for suspects in the killing of an Israeli man who was shot dead earlier this week had come under attack from “a massive barrage of rocks” and that troops had fired at the main instigator. She said the military was aware of a Palestinian fatality.