RAMALLAH, June 9 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man was killed on Friday by Israeli soldiers at an Israeli army checkpoint west of the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The minisry said in a short text message that it was informed by the Palestinian liaison office of security coordination with Israel that Israeli soldiers opened fire and killed a Palestinian at Rantis checkpoint west of the city.

The killed man was identified as Mahdi Biadseh, 29, from Ramallah area, it added.

Meanwhile, Palestinian eyewitnesses said Biadseh arrived by his car at the checkpoint, where the soldiers asked him to get out from his car, before a fight between him and the soldiers erupted, which turned into hand fighting and ended with opening fire that killed Biadseh.

An Israeli army spokesman said in a press statement that Biadseh attacked the soldiers and tried to grab one of the soldiers' gun, adding the soldiers neutralized him.

The tension between Israelis and Palestinians has been flaring in the Palestinian territories since early January, leaving more than 160 Palestinians killed, including women and children, according to health ministry figures.

In the meantime, around 20 Israelis were killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank and Jerusalem. Enditem

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