RAMALLAH, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- An 80-year-old Palestinian man who holds American citizenship was found dead on Wednesday following his arrest by the Israeli army in the West Bank, medics said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that Omar As'ad's body was found in the village of Jiljilya before he was moved to the emergency room at a Palestinian medical compound.

A local doctor, who tried to resuscitate the Palestinian man but found no pulse, said that it is possible that he suffered a heart attack or some form of panic, according to media reports.

Jiljilya village mayor Fouad Motea' said that Israeli soldiers suddenly stormed As'ad's car as he was on his way back home after visiting some relatives.

The soldiers took him out of the car, blindfolded him, and cuffed his hands, then put him inside a building under construction, said the mayor.

The Israeli army confirmed that it had carried out an overnight operation in the village and a Palestinian was "apprehended after resisting a check," noting that he was alive when the soldiers released him, Israeli media reported.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said that As'ad was a U.S. citizen and it had sought clarification from the Israeli side over the incident.

The Israeli army launches almost daily raids in the West Bank as part of the pursuit of Palestinians it describes as "wanted." Enditem

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