Israeli troops kill 4 Palestinians amid West Bank protests

By Muhammad Ghafri and Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Four Palestinians were shot dead on Tuesday by Israeli forces in the West Bank, raising the Palestinian civilian death toll amid the recent weeks' escalation in violence in the territory to 27, said authorities.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, two civilians died after being shot by live Israeli bullets, with one succumbing to injuries after arriving at a hospital in the town of Bil'in, west of Ramallah.

Earlier on Tuesday, the ministry reported that a Palestinian had been killed and 215 others wounded during sporadic clashes in the West Bank with the Israeli army.

A separate incident saw Israeli forces shoot dead another young Palestinian in the city of Hebron after accusing him of attempting a stabbing attack in the city.

Palestinians staged a nationwide general strike across the occupied West Bank and Arab towns in Israel on Tuesday to protest ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Shops, business centers, civil institutions, banks, and universities shut their doors across the West Bank, interspersed with popular rallies and confrontations with Israeli forces.

At least 213 Palestinians have been killed, including 61 children and 36 women, and 1,442 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since May 10, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Also, 12 Israelis have reportedly been killed in Palestinian rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara