Israeli troops fatally shot a seven-month-old Palestinian baby in the occupied West Bank. The incident, reported by the Palestinian health ministry, involved troops firing on a vehicle carrying the infant and his parents. The baby, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, succumbed to injuries inflicted by a bullet to the face. His mother and father sustained wounds during the attack while driving in the Tel Rumeida area, south of Hebron City.
The bullet that critically injured the baby also struck his mother after passing through the vehicle’s windshield and his father’s hand, as stated by the PA news agency WAFA. The family, traveling from Bethlehem to Hebron, faced gunfire from Israeli soldiers en route. Photos from the Associated Press depicted the extent of damage, including a bullet hole in the car’s windshield, and highlighted the location of the baby’s car seat behind the driver’s seat.
This tragedy comes amid increased military operations in the West Bank by Israel, following the October 2023 Hamas attack that resulted in significant casualties and kidnappings. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 72,900 Palestinians have died during Israel’s military responses, a toll corroborated by UN agencies and independent experts.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the incident through a spokesperson, who mentioned that the soldiers perceived a threat from an approaching vehicle, prompting them to fire. The IDF confirmed three injuries, without specifying the victims’ ages or genders, and stated that initial investigations revealed the injured were uninvolved civilians. The IDF expressed regret for any harm caused to noncombatants, emphasizing the event is under review.
Fahd Abu Haikal, the baby’s father, recounted the incident from Al-Ahly Hospital in Hebron. He described the path of the bullet that entered his hand, then his child, and mother, highlighting the severe injuries to his wife, who remains unaware of her son’s death.
The infant’s grandmother, Feryal Abu Haikal, was also in the vehicle and detailed the terror of the shooting. They initially believed the soldiers’ fire to be mere warning shots until they were struck. She questioned the morality of an army that targets civilians and stated that her grandson’s loss is unforgettable.
The infant’s funeral was planned for later on Saturday. International reactions included the British consulate in Jerusalem expressing shock and calling for an investigation to ensure accountability and civilian protection.
Since the conflict began, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with UN reports stating that at least 240 were children. In early 2026, 49 individuals have died due to related violence. A similar incident in March resulted in Israeli troops targeting another family vehicle in the northern West Bank, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Criticism continues about the accountability of Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians. According to rights group Yesh Din, there is a low rate of punitive measures against soldiers facing such allegations.
Presently, more than 700,000 Israelis reside in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas secured by Israel in 1967 and claimed by Palestinians for a future state.
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