Israeli soldiers shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian during clashes near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian officials said, dpa reported.
The Israeli military said several Palestinians approached the Israeli security fence near the village of Budrus, west of Ramallah and on the so-called "green line" separating Israel from the West Bank, and damaged it in an attempt to infiltrate Israel.
"Soldiers at the scene responded immediately in order to secure the area and prevent the infiltration," a spokesman in Tel Aviv told dpa.
He would not confirm reports that the soldiers opened fire with live ammunition, saying the incident was still being investigated.
Budrus village council head Muhammad Murrar said clashes broke out between the soldiers and students leaving their nearby school.
A Ramallah hospital official said Samir Awad arrived in critical condition suffering from four bullet wounds and died shortly afterwards.
Murrar said the soldiers fired several rounds of teargas and that several other youths were treated for inhalation.
He said they were protesting the barrier's construction on village land.