JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian boy during a confrontation with rock-throwing protesters in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, a relative who witnessed the incident said.

Mr Youssef al-Anati said his 11-year-old nephew, Khalil, was shot dead even though he was not taking part in the disturbances near the city of Hebron. The boy was taken to a local hospital, which said he had been hit in the back with a live bullet.

"Khalil was standing outside and at a distance some kids were throwing stones at the Israeli army," Mr al-Anati told Reuters. "Suddenly Khalil collapsed to the ground and we rushed to him; he was all covered in blood."

An Israeli military spokesman said she was checking the report.

Tensions in the West Bank have run high during Israel's more than month-old war with Islamist militants in the Gaza Strip, another territory where Palestinians seek statehood.