Palestinian man 'executed' at Israeli checkpoint in east Jerusalem

According to the Israeli police account, the 25-year-old entered a border guard post yielding a knife and stabbed two Israeli officers before he was shot dead. Two guards were injured.

However, witnesses reported a dispute broke out between Israeli forces and a Palestinian man "who was carrying a stick", according to Ma'an news agency.

Israeli guards then allegedly forced the Palestinian man outside of the enclosure and "executed" him at point blank range, firing four bullets and killing him instantly.

The Palestinian man was identified as Ibrahim Mahmoud Matar, a resident of the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Jabal al-Mukabbir.

Following the incident, Israeli forces raided Matar's home and detained his brother, parents and uncle, Ma'an reported.

Israel annexed Arab East Jerusalem after the 1967 war, a move never recognised by the international community.

Violence since October 2015 has killed at least 255 Palestinians and 40 Israelis.

Rights groups have accused Israeli forces of using excessive force in many cases.

Israel denies such charges, claiming stringent "security measures" were necessary to counter attacks. It claims that a Palestinian campaign of incitement is fanning the violence.

Palestinians say the rise in knife attacks on Israeli soldiers is rooted in frustration stemming from nearly five decades of Israeli military occupation Jerusalem and the West Bank.