Israeli soldiers photographed beating Palestinian in West Bank

Military claims the man was resisting arrest and is investigating the incident

Army claimed man was resisting arrest, but said an investigation will be opened (Reuters)

Israeli soldiers have been photographed beating a Palestinian man in Hebron in the West Bank.

The pictures show at least five soldiers from the Nehal brigade struggling with a barefoot man in the street.

In one photograph, a soldier is shown holding the man’s head down while another kicks him.

A different picture shows a uniformed man pinning him to the ground with his knee on his head. A soldier is also captured grabbing the Palestinian by the throat.

The military claimed the man was resisting arrest, but has said an investigation will be opened into the incident.

Arrest was part of a security check in the area, according to army (AFP/Getty)

According to the Israeli army, the arrest was part of a security check in the area.

"During a routine security check, the Palestinian who was documented [in the photographs] refused to be frisked.

“The forces had arrested the suspect. The troops' conduct is being looked into and the incident is being investigated,” the army said in a statement to Haaretz

Israel has stepped up its military presence in Hebron (Reuters)

Israel has stepped up its military presence in the area following escalating violence in the West Bank.

On Wednesday, an unarmed 13-year-old Palestinian girl was shot in the leg after refusing to stop at a checkpoint.