HEBRON (Agencies) – A seven-month-old Palestinian infant was killed and his parents injured after Israeli soldiers opened fire on their vehicle in the occupied West Bank near the city of Hebron on Friday, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the infant as Sam Fahd Abu Haykal, who was travelling with his parents when Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicle. The shooting killed the child and left both parents wounded.
Speaking to Reuters, the child’s grandmother, Firyal Abu Haykal, said a bullet struck the family vehicle, fatally injuring the infant.
“The incident is unbelievable and unacceptable,” she said, adding, “We are being harmed just because we decided to stay at our homes.”
According to the military, the Israel Defense Forces said troops believed the vehicle was accelerating toward their position. The military stated that a soldier fired a single round at the car and later acknowledged that those injured were “uninvolved civilians.”
The military added that the incident is currently under review.
The latest killing adds to growing concerns over civilian casualties in the occupied West Bank, where violence has intensified amid ongoing regional tensions.
Similar incidents have previously been reported. In March, Palestinian officials said four members of a Palestinian family, including two children aged five and seven, were killed after Israeli soldiers allegedly opened fire on their vehicle during a late-night drive following the Ramadan fast.
The incident has renewed scrutiny over military engagement rules and civilian safety in conflict-hit areas of the occupied West Bank.
