A Palestinian villager died shortly after being shot by Israeli forces in clashes with Israeli soldiers and settlers in a village near the West Bank city of Nablus Saturday, witnesses and hospital officials said.

Mohammed Qadous, 21, arrived at Nablus hospital in critical condition and died later, a doctor from the hospital said.

Mohammed was seriously injured Saturday afternoon during clashes erupted between residents of a village and Jewish settlers who entered the village.

The settlers called soldiers after villagers hurled rocks at them. The soldiers responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, wounding three residents, one of them seriously, a Xinhua photographer said.

Palestinians often scuffle with settlers who live in Jewish blocs built in the West Bank. The continuation of Israel's settlement activities, including building in East Jerusalem, complicates efforts to revive peace talks between the two sides.