A Palestinian boy was shot dead by settlers, security sources confirmed late on Thursday, saying the child was targeted after throwing stones at his attackers' car.

Military sources told Israeli media that the boy's body was found, but did not confirm that the cause of death was shooting and said an investigation would be launched into the incident.

However, the sources did confirm shots fired in the area, as well as reports that children were throwing rocks at settler cars.

The boy was identified as Ayssar Yasser Al-Zaben, from the Ramallah-area village of Mazra Ash-Sharquieh, in his early teens. He was shot near his village off highway 60 shortly before sunset.

Popular committee organizing officials said the boy was shot in the back, and found by family members hours after his death when he failed to return home.

Witnesses told the activist group that at the same time Ayssar was shot, a group of boys and teenagers from the village had scuffled with a settler near the highway. The fight was reportedly precipitated by stone throwing, but most of the boys ran back to the village when the fight reached its peak, and one settler, who stopped his car when it was stoned, started shooting in the direction of the boys.