Washington has confirmed a Palestinian teenager shot dead by Israeli troops was a US citizen.

It’s the second time this week an American child has fallen victim to the ongoing conflict.

“The United States expresses its deepest condolences to the family of a US citizen minor who was killed by the Israeli Defense Forces during clashes in Silwad on October 24,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Friday.

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Calling for “a speedy and transparent investigation”, Psaki said officials from the US consulate in Jerusalem were in touch with the family of the slain youth.

Palestinian officials named the boy as Orwa Hammad, 17, saying he was shot during a stone-throwing protest against troops, a regular occurrence at Silwad, near Ofra settlement.

Israeli troops said he had been about to throw a petrol bomb at Israeli motorists near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Tensions have been high since a Palestinian ploughed his car into a crowd of Israelis in Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing a three-month-old baby girl who was also an American citizen.

“We continue to urge all parties to help restore calm and avoid escalating tensions in the wake of the tragic recent incidents in Jerusalem and the West Bank,” said Psaki.