ISRAELI occupying forces killed a 14-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said today.

This came as a right-wing extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a frequent flashpoint for violent attacks on Palestinians by Israelis.

The Israeli cabinet minister’s third visit to the sensitive holy site since becoming Israel’s national security minister comes as Israel and the Palestinians are locked in the deadliest violence in nearly two decades. 

The visit to the site revered by both Muslims and Jews drew condemnation from neighbouring Jordan and from Palestinians who view such visits as provocative. 

Early Thursday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said teenager Fares Sharhabil Abu Samra was killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank town of Qalqilya. 

The Israeli military said Palestinians threw rocks and fire bombs at troops, who responded by firing into the air. It said the incident was being reviewed.

Mr Ben-Gvir was visiting the al-Aqsa Mosque compound to mark the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av, a day of mourning and repentance when Jews reflect on the destruction of the First and Second Temples.

In a video message Mr Ben-Gvir said: “This is the most important place for the people of Israel which we must return to and show our rule.”

The Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Affairs Ministry warned that the government and extremists like Mr Ben-Gvir would “push things towards religious war” by “provoking the feelings of Muslims all over the world.”

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it considered Mr Ben-Gvir’s visit to the sacred compound as an attempt to impose Israeli sovereignty over the site.

Jordan, which acts as a custodian over the site and has a peace agreement with Israel, said such visits along with other Israeli steps in Jerusalem “threaten to trigger new cycles of violence.”