JERUSALEM, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tear gas exposure may have caused the death of the Palestinan "assailant" in West Bank city Jericho, according to a statement issued by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday.

On Thursday, the Israeli army said that the "assailant" tried to attack soldiers during clashes and soldiers then "fired towards" the suspect, adding that they also "confronted him from close range" before they caught and arrested him.

Friday's statement said that an initial inquiry regarding the IDF activity in Jericho suggested that during the IDF activity a riot was instigated as approximately 50 Palestinians threw firebombs and rocks and rolled burning tires at IDF troops.

During the riot, a Palestinian holding an iron rod ran towards and assaulted the soldiers. In response to the threat, soldiers fired towards him but he was "most likely not hit," according to the Israeli army in the statement.

The soldiers used force in order to subdue the suspect. In addition, the suspect attempted to grab a soldier's weapon. The soldiers arrested the Palestinian and an IDF medic declared his medical condition normal, added the IDF.

The soldiers continued to use riot dispersal means adjacent to the area where the suspect was held, said the army, adding that his medical condition deteriorated and he was evacuated for further medical treatment by IDF troops who subsequently declared his death.

After searching the Palestinian, a knife was found on him, said the Israeli army.

Because the Palestinian died while in IDF custody, the IDF opened a Military Police investigation, during which the suspect's cause of death will investigated and an autopsy will be performed, noted the Israeli army in the statement.

However, the Palestinian sources said Friday that Yassin al-Saradeeh, a 33-year-old resident of Jericho, "was killed by a bullet fired from point-blank range that struck him in the lower abdomen, causing internal bleeding, and that the bullet exited through his back."