Palestinian youth killed in West Bank explosion

A Palestinian youth was killed in the West Bank near Hebron Monday night in an incident whose circumstances were not immediately clear.

According to initial media reports, IDF troops arrived at a road in the South Hebron Hills to investigate reports that rocks had been placed on the motorway, blocking it.

The patrol then heard an explosion nearby and soon found the youth’s body.

Officials told Walla news they were checking whether the teenager had attempted to hurl a grenade or other explosive at the soldiers when it detonated in his hands.

Walla further reported that a large contingent of security forces was sent to the scene of the incident to help investigate and prevent any riots or disorder.

The incident came following days of unrest in and around Jerusalem’s Temple Mount which have raised tensions in the region.

Israel said Monday thousands of police would be deployed in the capital ahead of the Yom Kippur and Eid al-Adha holidays.

Authorities also said 66 people had been arrested in Jerusalem over the past week, including some detained in connection with the unrest at al-Aqsa Mosque, which saw Israeli police clash several times with rioters.

Yom Kippur begins on Tuesday night and lasts until Wednesday evening, with thousands of Jews expected to visit the Western Wall below the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City, called Haram al-Sharif or the al-Aqsa compound by Muslims.

The Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday begins on Wednesday evening and continues until Sunday.

Last week’s clashes occurred during the Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah.

Police said they raided the Temple Mount to stop youths who had barricaded themselves inside the mosque from disrupting visits by Jews and tourists. They found pipe bombs and other weaponry.

Clashes broke out during the raids, with protesters throwing fireworks, stones and other objects at police, who fired stun grenades.

There were also clashes in the alleyways of the Old City outside the compound. Friday saw further unrest in the West Bank and sporadically in Jerusalem.

AFP contributed to this report.