US demands probe as citizen killed by Israeli soldiers in West Bank

After the death of a US activist in the West Bank, the White House called on Israel to investigate the case on Friday.

Washington has "reached out to the government of Israel to ask for more information and request an investigation into the incident," said US President Joe Biden's spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, expressing deep shocked at her tragic death.

"We deplore this tragic loss," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "The most important thing to do is to gather the facts," he said, adding actions and conclusions would be "driven by the facts."

Earlier, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that a US citizen was fatally shot by Israeli troops while protesting the expansion of settlements in the northern West Bank.

The woman died after being taken to a hospital with a major head wound, the report said, citing doctors.

WAFA said the activist, who is of Turkish descent, had taken part in a weekly protest against the expansion of an Israeli settlement in the town of Beita, south of the city of Nablus, when Israeli troops opened fire.

The outpost in question is Eviatar, according to reports. Outposts are improvised settlements consisting of caravans, for example, which are also illegal under Israeli law, but are occasionally legalized retroactively.

Israeli forces used live ammunition, stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the demonstration, WAFA said. The account could not be independently verified.

The IDF said it was investigating the report after "violent activity" in the area.

Israeli forces fired at the person who had mainly instigated it, the IDF said. The person had thrown stones and threatened the Israeli security forces, according to a military statement. It was initially unclear whether the person referred to was the US citizen who was killed.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as a "murder committed by the Netanyahu government." Israeli authorities who commit crimes against humanity and all those who unconditionally support them will be held accountable in international courts, the ministry said.

Tensions have soared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank amid Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.