Israeli Troops’ Shooting Incident in West Bank Kills Infant
Israeli troops killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry, during an incident in the occupied West Bank. The shooting occurred on Friday evening in Tel Rumeida, located south of Hebron City. The baby’s parents suffered injuries in the event.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the baby, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was critically wounded when the bullet that injured his mother struck him in the face. Unfortunately, he died from his injuries. His father, Fahd Abu Haikal, who lectures at Bethlehem University, sustained a gunshot wound to his hand. The family was traveling from Bethlehem to Hebron to visit relatives when the shooting happened, as reported by WAFA.
Images from the Associated Press displayed the damage to the family car, including a bullet hole in the windshield. The baby’s car seat was located behind the driver’s seat of the vehicle. A photograph showed a man examining the damaged vehicle the day after the incident.
Israel’s military operations in the West Bank intensified following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and the hostage-taking of 251 people, prompting a war in Gaza. The ensuing Israeli military campaign has claimed over 72,900 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, is regarded as a credible source by the United Nations agencies and independent experts.
An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson informed CBS News that soldiers perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them in the Hebron area. A soldier responded by firing single shots. In a statement, the spokesperson mentioned that three Palestinians were injured and taken for medical treatment. The age and gender of the injured were not specified. An initial inquiry indicated that the injured were uninvolved civilians. The IDF expressed deep regret for any harm caused to non-combatants and is reviewing the incident.
At Al-Ahly Hospital in Hebron, the baby’s father, Fahd Abu Haikal, described to Associated Press reporters how a bullet passed through the windshield, striking his hand, his son, and eventually his wife. “It entered the child’s face on the right side, exited on the left, and then traveled into his mother’s face, with shrapnel getting lodged near her heart,” he said. His wife is in critical condition, with shrapnel dangerously close to her heart. They have not yet informed her of their son’s passing.
The baby’s grandmother, Feryal Abu Heikal, who was present in the car, recounted how they were driving near a checkpoint when they observed Israeli military vehicles and soldiers from a distance. Initially mistaking the gunfire for warning shots, they were suddenly hit. She expressed profound grief over seeing her grandson’s injuries, questioning what kind of army could do such a thing. The funeral for the infant is expected to take place later on Saturday.
The British consulate in Jerusalem expressed shock and sadness over the incident, urging a prompt and transparent investigation, along with accountability. They emphasized the need to protect civilians.
The United Nations reported that over 1,000 Palestinians have died in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the conflict’s onset, with at least 240 being children. Since the start of 2026, 49 fatalities have been recorded.
In an earlier incident in March, Israeli soldiers reportedly opened fire on a car carrying a family in the northern West Bank, killing four, including two children, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Health Ministry. Reports from Israeli rights group Yesh Din indicate that Israeli soldiers rarely face penalties for harm to Palestinians, with indictments occurring in less than 1% of about 2,427 complaints filed between 2016 and 2024.
Currently, over 700,000 Israelis reside in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas seized by Israel in 1967 from Jordan, now sought by Palestinians for their future state.