RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in separate incidents in the northern West Bank on Saturday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.

According to the ministry in Ramallah, a 16-year-old, Rayan Mohammed Abdel Qader Abu Mualla, was killed in Qabatiya. His body is being withheld by Israeli forces, the statement added. Earlier, a 22-year-old man, Ahmed Said Zayoud, was shot dead in Silat al-Harithiya, northwest of Jenin.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said both incidents involved attacks on troops. In Qabatiya, a Palestinian hurled a brick at soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade's reconnaissance unit during a raid. The troops returned fire, killing the attacker, the IDF said.

Minutes later in Silat al-Harithiya, another Palestinian threw an explosive device at the soldiers, who also responded with fire, the IDF said. No Israeli soldiers were reported injured in either incident.

Israeli forces frequently conduct operations in the West Bank, which Israel describes as "counter-terrorism" measures targeting individuals linked to Palestinian armed groups.

According to a UN report in mid-December, at least 232 Palestinians, including 52 children, had been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2025.

Separately, the IDF said its troops killed two Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday after they crossed the Yellow Line, the buffer area established under the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, and posed an immediate threat. The air force carried out the strike following the identification of the individuals, the military said.

Over the past 24 hours, Palestinian authorities reported 13 fatalities, including seven previously unrecorded and six newly confirmed deaths, along with 20 injuries. Since Oct. 11, 401 Palestinians have been killed, 1,108 injured, and 641 bodies recovered.

The authorities added that since Oct. 7, 2023, 70,925 Palestinians have been killed and 171,185 injured, noting that many victims remain trapped under rubble, with emergency and rescue teams unable to reach them. Enditem