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

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian rioter during a confrontation in the West Bank on Tuesday, a Palestinian official said.

An Israeli spokeswoman said a large crowd of Palestinians set tires ablaze and threw rocks at the troops, who responded with “dispersal means.”

She could not confirm initially whether troops had used live rounds, but said the military was aware of the Palestinian fatality and that the incident was being investigated.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the fatality as 16-year-old Layth Abu Naeem.

Faraj al-Nassan, the head of al-Mugheir village, said a confrontation had erupted after Israeli troops entered his village and that Abu Naeem was hit from close range. He was taken to hospital in nearby Ramallah.

Tensions in the region have risen since US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Dec. 6 recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and at least 19 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed since.