A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday, Palestinian sources said.

Zakareya Daraghma, 37, who is a citizen of Nablus, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers stationed at Al-Bathan barrier outside the city, said the Palestinian sources.

Medics at Nablus Hospital said that Daraghma arrived dead after he was shot.

Witnesses said that the soldiers opened fire suddenly at the man and shot him dead.

However, an Israeli army spokesman said that the soldiers asked Daraghma to stop but he neglected the soldiers' instruction.

The spokesman, who was quoted by Israel Radio, said that when the man refused to stop, the soldiers opened fire at him.

Nablus, located in the northern West Bank, has been under a strict Israeli army siege for several months since several Palestinian militant groups remain active in the city, vowing to keep carrying out armed attacks against Israel.

Source: Xinhua