Israeli troops fatally shot a seven-month-old Palestinian baby, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, during an incident in the occupied West Bank, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry. The shooting occurred Friday evening in the Tel Rumeida area, south of Hebron City. The baby’s parents were injured in the same incident.
The official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, stated that the baby was critically wounded by a bullet that also injured his mother. The child later succumbed to his wounds. His father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, was injured in his hand. The family was traveling from Bethlehem to Hebron when Israeli soldiers opened fire, according to the report.
Photos from the Associated Press show damage to the vehicle, including bullet holes in the windshield. The images reveal that the baby’s car seat was positioned behind the driver’s seat.
“It entered the child’s face on the right side and exited on the left, then passed directly into his mother’s face and exited on the other side, with shrapnel lodged near her heart,” Fahd Abu Haikal said.
Israel’s military operations in the West Bank increased following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. The retaliatory campaign in Gaza has led to more than 72,900 Palestinian deaths, per Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry’s assessments are generally regarded as reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts.
An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson stated that soldiers perceived the vehicle was accelerating towards them and responded with single shots. The spokesperson acknowledged that three Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical care but did not disclose further details. The initial inquiry showed those injured were uninvolved civilians. The IDF expressed regrets for any harm caused to non-combatants and stated that the incident is under review.
At Al-Ahly Hospital in Hebron, the child’s father shared details with the Associated Press, revealing how the bullet pierced the car, injuring both him and his family. The mother, in critical condition due to shrapnel near her heart, remains unaware of her son’s death.
Feryal Abu Heikal, the baby’s grandmother, was also in the car during the shooting. As they approached a checkpoint, she saw Israeli military vehicles. She initially believed the shots were merely warnings until they were hit. She described the aftermath as “horrific.”
“The scene was horrific to see a seven-month-old baby with a smashed face,” the grandmother commented. “What kind of army in the world does this? … What happened to my grandson can’t be easily forgotten.”
The British consulate in Jerusalem expressed shock and sadness over the incident, emphasizing the need for an immediate and transparent investigation. They stressed the importance of civilian protection.
The United Nations recently reported over 1,000 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the war began. Among those, at least 240 were children. Since 2026 began, 49 people have died in similar contexts.
Prior incidents have seen Israeli soldiers fire on Palestinian families, such as the March event in the northern West Bank that killed four, including two children.
Criticism emerges about the lack of accountability for Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians. Rights group Yesh Din notes that charges follow fewer than 1% of relevant complaints from 2016 to 2024.
The West Bank and East Jerusalem, seized by Israel in 1967, are home to over 700,000 Israelis and are opposed by Palestinians seeking these areas for a future state.