Autopsy indicates Palestinian teen was burned alive

JERUSALEM, July 5 (UPI) -- An autopsy conducted by Israeli doctors determined a Palestinian teenager killed in Jerusalem this week was burned alive.

The exam discovered trace amounts of smoke in the lungs of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khedair, Palestinian General Prosecutor Mohammed al-Auwewy said. The boy had also been hit in the head with a blunt object.

Khedair was found dead one day after funerals were held for three Israeli teens -- Naftali Fraenkel, Eyal Yifrach and Gilad Shaer -- who had allegedly been kidnapped and killed by members of Hamas.

Israel is investigating Khedair's death, said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

"We'll get to the bottom of it and catch those responsible," he told CNN.

The deaths of the four teenagers have prompted violent protests in the West Bank.