Israeli shot dead near settlement in occupied West Bank

An Israeli man was shot dead on Tuesday night close to a settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories, the army said, after his vehicle came under fire north of the West Bank.

The man died from his wounds suffered from the gun attack near Havat Gilad settlement, east of the Palestinian city of Nablus, AFP reported. 

Israel's army did not say if he was a settler but he was described as a "civilian".

Before being taken to hospital, the man was able to call for help on his phone, according to public radio, which aired the recording.

"I was shot near Havat Gilad," the man said, before collapsing.

The station said the man was in his 30s and lived in the settlement.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin vowed that "security forces will track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice".

About 400,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, which Israel illegally occupied 50 years ago.

Settlements are illegal under international law and are one of the main obstacles to peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Fourteen Palestinians have been killed in unrest since President Donald Trump announced on 6 December that the US would become the first state to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The move was widely condemned by the international community.

Tensions have also mounted after the detention of 16-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi late December.