A Palestinian man was shot dead by an Israeli during a settler attack on a village in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday evening.
A relative said Alaa Khalid Subeih, 28, was killed as he tried to defend a greenhouse from the settlers in Tayasir in the northern West Bank. A senior UN official also said he was killed by a settler.
The Israeli military said he was shot by an off-duty soldier and accused him of throwing stones.
Tayasir has been a focus of recent violence by settlers. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.
The killing came as ex-security chiefs warned that government sponsored Jewish terrorism was running wild in the West Bank and the Israeli government reportedly approved dozens more settlements.
Last month, a CNN crew covering violence there was detained by Israeli soldiers. The military later said there was an incident involving actions and behaviour incompatible with what is expected of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Saeb Subeih, Alaa's cousin, described him as a calm and respectful person who cared deeply for his community. They were in the area under army protection, he added, referring to the settlers.
On the night of the shooting, Subeih said, a group of settlers raided the village, and Alaa was executed after defending his plastic greenhouse.
Alaa's body has still not been returned to his family by the IDF, with relatives stating that the return of his remains is crucial for his family’s emotional healing.
Ajith Sunghay, from the UN Human Rights Office, indicated that settler violence against Palestinians is on the rise, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the region.
The IDF has not responded to requests regarding details surrounding the incident, stating that it is currently under review.
