Photographs appeared to show Ziad Abu Ein (left) being held by the throat by an Israeli soldier
A Palestinian minister has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the West Bank.
Palestinian medics told the BBC Ziad Abu Ein had died from complications related to tear gas exposure.
But several witnesses said the minister had been hit and shoved by soldiers. One said he had been hit in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by them.
Israel's Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon expressed regret for the minister's death in a statement.
Kevin Connolly says there are conflicting reports about what happened
The Israeli military (IDF) said it was investigating the incidents surrounding Mr Ein's death.
Palestinians gathered outside the hospital in Ramallah where Mr Abu Ein's body was brought
Israeli and Jordanian experts would attend a post-mortem examination, the IDF said. It has also proposed setting up a joint team with the Palestinians to investigate Mr Abu Ein's death.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an investigation into the death and urged "all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid escalation".
Following the incident dozens of Palestinians reportedly gathered at the scene, near the village of Turmusaya, setting fire to tyres and throwing stones at security forces.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas led prayers at a PLO meeting called following Ziad abu Ein's death
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) meeting in Ramallah following news of the death of the minister, whom he called a "martyr".
Confiscation protest
Mr Abu Ein, a minister without portfolio, was among dozens of foreign and Palestinian activists taking part in a protest against land confiscations.
They had planned to plant olive tree saplings on a patch of land near the Jewish settlement of Shiloh, which Palestinians believe has been earmarked for annexation by Israel.
Leading Palestinian activist Mahmoud Aloul, who was also at the protest, told the Associated Press news agency the soldiers had fired tear gas and had beaten some of the activists with rifle butts.In the course of the protest, they came into confrontation with a group of about 15 Israeli soldiers.
At one point, Mr Abu Ein was hit by a tear gas canister, Mr Aloul said.
A Reuters photographer said he had seen Mr Abu Ein being struck by a hand on the neck during an altercation with two soldiers.
An AFP news agency photographer said the minister had been hit in the chest.
Protesters had planned to plant olive tree saplings on a patch of land they fear will be annexed by Israel
Photos of the incident showed Mr Abu Ein lying unconscious before he was taken away in an ambulance. He died before reaching hospital in the nearby city of Ramallah.
There are reports he had a health condition that may have contributed to his death.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says Palestinians are likely to see the exact cause of death as a secondary issue, and it will serve to sharpen tensions.
'Cruel death'
Condemning "the brutal assault" on Mr Abu Ein as a "barbaric act", Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas promised to take unspecified measures and declared three days of mourning.
One senior Palestinian official said the Palestinian Authority would halt security co-ordination with Israel.
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