Salfit/PNN /

A Palestinian young man was shot dead today by Israeli settlers in the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan, in the occupied West Bank province of Salfit, according to local sources.

Witnesses said  that a group of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and opened gunfire at them in the northern outskirts of the town, critically injuring of them by a gunshot in the head, before he was announced dead a few minutes later. The victim was identified as Methkal Sulaiman Rayyan, 27 years old.

The latest crime brings up the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces and colonial settlers since the beginning of the year to 46, including 9 children and an elderly woman.

Israeli settler violence against Palestinians is commonplace in the occupied West Bank, and is never prosecuted by the occupation authorities.

Attacks by settlers against Palestinians have intensified during the last few months, with Israeli occupation army turning a blind eye to the violence spree and providing the settlers with protection