Four Palestinians have been killed since Friday following an escalation of violence near the West Bank border.

The four incidents took place in an area prohibited to the Palestinians.

Budrus village-resident Samir Ahmed Awad, 17, was reportedly shot four times by an IDF soldier today near the separation barrier.

Different versions of the incident are circulating. An IDF spokesperson claimed that the deceased breached the barrier and was shot, despite being warned. Village Mayor Mohammed Morar told AFP news that Mr Awad had been shot after students threw stones at soldiers. A report on Reuters, meanwhile, suggests that the teenager was not involved in the stone-throwing.

Budrus Popular Committee member Ayeed Mora told Haaretz news: “In recent days we feel an escalation by the army, which shoots at everything that approaches the fence, even if they are children.”

Palestinian farmer Mustafa Abu Jarad, 21, was allegedly shot by members of the IDF on Monday and died in hospital. An army spokesperson has denied military involvement in the incident.

Palestinian Uday Kamil Muhammad Darwish reportedly attempted to illegally enter Israel via Hebron and was shot in the back by the IDF on Saturday. The IDF are investigating the incident.

Anwar Muhammad al-Mamlouk, 22, was killed on Friday near the Jabalya refugee camp. IDF sources claim a group of Palestinians attempted to damage the fence.

Confrontation near the Israel-Gaza border has died down since the eight-day November conflict in which 170 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed.