A Palestinian was killed while attempting to use an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden in a burning tire, The Jerusalem Post's sister publication Maariv reported early Thursday morning.
According to a later report by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the suspect was carrying incendiary substances, intending to light up Molotov cocktails.
According to early reports, a cell was attempting to detonate an IED concealed in a burning tire. The incident took place on Route 465 near Deir Abu Mashaal in the West Bank.
One member of the cell was reportedly shot by the soldiers following a pursuit. He was critically injured at first and treated by an IDF medic, who ultimately pronounced him dead.
Two other cell members reportedly fled the scene and are currently being searched for by the IDF. Several similar incidents have reportedly taken place in the region.
"IDF combatants prevented an attempted terrorist attack a short time ago," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said early Thursday morning.
"During IDF activity near the village of Deir Abu Mashaal in the area of the Ephraim Brigade, the soldiers identified a terrorist cell carrying substances used for firebombs and placing tires, intending to light them up to harm civilian vehicles driving on a nearby road."
According to the IDF, "such incidents have taken place in the past. During the incident, the terrorists were shot and a hit was identified."A military spokeswoman said members of a "terrorist squad" were hit by the gunfire but she had no details on their condition.Palestinian health and municipal officials said Mohammad Damer Hamdan, 16, was killed by Israeli forces and two other Palestinians were wounded. The Hamas Islamist militant group issued a statement mourning his death.Imad Zahran, chairman of the local council of Hamdan's village, said two of the Palestinians shot by the troops were treated in Palestinian hospitals and that the military, which had taken Hamdan away, later informed him that he had died of his wounds. A Palestinian health official also said Hamdan was killed.Reuters contributed to this report.