A Palestinian man was killed Monday night while allegedly trying to attack Israeli forces with an IED that exploded prematurely in the village of Khursa near Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank, an Israeli army spokesperson said.

An Israeli army spokesperson said Israeli forces received reports of a road which had been blockaded with rocks near the village of Khursa, and that when Israeli forces arrived at the scene they heard an explosion nearby and went to investigate, finding a body.

“Initial inquiries suggest the suspect attempted to hurl an IED at an army vehicle when it detonated,” the spokesperson said.

A local activist who arrived on the scene shortly after the incident said a young man identified as Muhannad Masharqa was killed when a homemade grenade exploded in his hands during clashes.

The activist said Israeli forces prevented an ambulance from reaching the scene.

Dozens of Palestinians have been injured, and many more detained over the past week, as Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians protesting across the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem in support of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound amid ongoing entry restrictions.

Tuesday evening marks the start of the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur and the eve of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which begins on Wednesday.

Many have speculated that tensions across the two territories will heighten over the next few days, particularly around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, as both religions celebrate their holidays.

(Ma’an)