Israeli Troops in Fatal Shooting of Palestinian Baby in West Bank

Israeli troops shot and killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, while firing at his parents’ vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry reported. The incident, which took place on Friday evening, also left his parents injured as they drove in the Tel Rumeida area, south of Hebron City.

According to the ministry and the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the baby was critically wounded when struck in the face by the same bullet that injured his mother. He succumbed to his injuries later. His father, Fahd Abu Haikal, who lectures at Bethlehem University, was shot in the hand while they were en route from Bethlehem to visit family in Hebron.

Photos from the Associated Press reveal the damage to the vehicle, including bullet holes in the windshield. These images also show the location of the baby’s car seat behind the driver’s seat. The family vehicle inspection took place on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and took hostages, Israeli military operations have intensified in the West Bank. Over 72,900 Palestinians have died as per Gaza’s Health Ministry data, viewed as reliable by global agencies.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces informed CBS News that soldiers flagged a vehicle accelerating towards them, prompting a soldier to fire a single shot. The statement noted three Palestinians were injured and given medical aid, without confirming the age or gender of those hurt. An inquiry revealed that the civilians were uninvolved, and the IDF expressed regret for any harm incurred.

Mr. Haikal recounted at Hebron’s Al-Ahly Hospital how the deadly bullet pierced the windshield, entered his hand, then his son’s face, and exited to injure his wife, causing shrapnel to remain near her heart. She remains unaware of their son’s death due to her critical state.

Eyewitness Feryal Abu Heikal, his grandmother, divulged they halted upon spotting military personnel and vehicles close to a checkpoint. Initial shots appeared as warnings before they were hit. She remarked on the horrifying sight of her injured grandson, questioning military ethics worldwide.

The British consulate in Jerusalem expressed dismay, urging an immediate, transparent investigation and accountability, stressing civilian protection.

The U.N. states over 1,000 Palestinian deaths have occurred since the war’s inception in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, with 240 being children. The year 2026 saw 49 fatalities thus far.

Incidents like March, where Israeli soldiers killed four, including two children in a northern West Bank vehicle, further highlight the ongoing conflict. Yesh Din, an Israeli rights organization, revealed less than 1% indictment from over 2,400 allegations against soldiers between 2016 to 2024.

More than 700,000 Israelis inhabit these contested territories acquired in 1967 from Jordan, with Palestinians aiming for a future state.