The Israeli army has shot dead a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank at the Zaatara checkpoint south of Nablus city, Palestinian security officials said.

The Israeli military has confirmed to Al Jazeera that a Palestinian man was killed and another was injured on Monday after soldiers encountered a group of stone throwing Palestinians near the Zaatara checkpoint.

Israeli forces said they had fired warning shots in the air and when those shots did not disperse the crowd, the soldiers responded with live fire. A military investigation is under way.

Nearly 20 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank since June, according to an AFP tally. Al Jazeera