Israeli army yesterday opened fire at a Palestinian teenage boy and killed him in the West Bank city of Jericho, Palestinian witnesses reported.

The witnesses said that 16-year-old Raakan Keyd Nasariyat was shot dead by Israeli army when he approach a checkpoint in Jordan Valley, north of Jericho.

Israeli military also confirmed the shooting incident, saying that Israeli soldier fired at him after they spotted the approach of a Palestinian man who was holding a pistol.

However, according to Israel's initial investigation, the pistol found in the hand of the slain boy is a fake one, which was made of plastic only.

Israeli military explained that the soldiers stationed in the checkpoint, where the boy was killed, are more strained after an Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian gunman in August.