'Mentally disabled' Palestinian shot by Israel army dies four days later

A Palestinian, described as mentally disabled by his family, died on Saturday four days after being shot by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint.

Hussein Qawariq, 59, from the village of Awarta, was shot on Tuesday by Israeli forces manning a checkpoint in Huwwara, near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Huwwara mayor Wajih Odeh told AFP Qawariq was "mentally disabled".

He "used to collect bottles and cans from the street and ask for money from businesses in the area", he said.

Qawariq's family too said he had a "mental disorder," official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

He succumbed to his wounds at the Rabin Medical Center in Israel, it added.

The Israeli army claimed that soldiers "spotted a suspect approaching them at a military post" and initially fired in the air after "receiving no response".

"The suspect continued approaching the soldiers who responded with fire toward him. A hit was identified," the army alleged.

The army said it was looking into the fatal shooting.

Israeli soldiers often use violence against Palestinians.

Israeli army gunfire injured three Palestinian youths, also at a checkpoint in Huwwara, on Thursday.

In May, celebrated Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who worked for pan-Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera, was shot dead by Israeli forces while covering a military raid at the Jenin refugee camp.