Israeli Troops Kill 7-Month-Old Palestinian Baby In West Bank/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A 7-month-old Palestinian boy was killed after Israeli troops fired at his family’s vehicle in the occupied West Bank near Hebron. Israeli officials said soldiers believed the vehicle was accelerating toward them and acknowledged those wounded appeared to be uninvolved civilians. The incident comes amid escalating violence in the West Bank and ongoing ceasefire negotiations regarding the Gaza conflict.
Israeli Troops Kill Palestinian Baby Quick Looks
- 7-month-old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal was killed Friday.
- Shooting occurred near Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
- Baby’s parents were also wounded in the incident.
- Israeli military says soldiers perceived the vehicle as a threat.
- Military review of the shooting is underway.
- Family rejects claims that the killing was a mistake.
- British Consulate called for accountability and investigation.
- Violence in the West Bank has intensified since October 2023.
- Settler-related clashes also reported near Nablus.
- Gaza ceasefire implementation talks resumed in Cairo.
Deep Look
Baby Killed After Israeli Troops Open Fire On Family Vehicle
A 7-month-old Palestinian infant was killed after Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle carrying his family in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials and family members.
The child, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, died Friday evening after a bullet struck him in the face while he was riding in the family vehicle near Hebron.
The shooting also wounded his parents, who were traveling with him to visit relatives.
Palestinian officials said the family was driving through the Tel Rumeida area south of Hebron when Israeli soldiers opened fire.
Family Describes Fatal Shooting
The infant’s father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, described the moment his family came under fire.
“A bullet pierced the child’s face from the right side and exited from the left side,” and then it struck his mother, said the father, Fahd Abu Haikal.
Haikal was wounded in the hand during the incident.
“He was the entire world,” Haikal added.
The grieving father noted that his son had turned seven months old on the day he was killed.
According to Haikal, one bullet passed through the windshield before striking him and then hitting both the child and his wife, who was seated in the back of the vehicle.
Another bullet struck the hood of the car.
Associated Press journalists later observed damage to the vehicle consistent with the family’s account.
Mother Critically Injured
The father said his wife suffered serious injuries and remained in critical condition.
According to family members, fragments from the gunfire lodged dangerously close to her heart.
Relatives informed her about her son’s death shortly before funeral prayers began.
During the funeral, the baby’s body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag as mourners gathered to pay their respects.
The father demanded accountability for the incident.
“At the end they tell you it was a mistake,” he said. “Nothing is called a mistake.”
Grandmother Recalls Horrific Scene
The infant’s grandmother, Feryal Abu Heikal, was also inside the vehicle when the shooting occurred.
She said the family had noticed Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the distance and stopped near a checkpoint.
Initially, she believed the sounds were warning shots.
“The scene was horrific to see a 7-month-old baby with a smashed face,” she said. “What kind of army in the world does this?”
Israeli Military Launches Review
The Israeli military acknowledged the shooting and said soldiers fired at a vehicle they believed posed a threat.
According to a military statement, troops perceived the vehicle as accelerating toward them in the Hebron area.
The military said three Palestinians were wounded and that a preliminary inquiry determined they appeared to be uninvolved civilians.
Officials stated that the incident remains under review.
International Reaction
The British Consulate in Jerusalem expressed concern over the incident and called for accountability.
The diplomatic mission said it was “shocked and saddened” by the killing and demanded an “immediate and transparent investigation and accountability.”
Human rights organizations have long criticized the handling of cases involving Palestinian civilian casualties.
According to Israeli rights group Yesh Din, Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians are rarely prosecuted. The organization reported that fewer than 1% of complaints alleging wrongdoing between 2016 and 2024 resulted in indictments.
Escalating Violence In The West Bank
The shooting comes amid heightened tensions throughout the West Bank.
Israel has significantly expanded military operations in the territory since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the broader regional conflict.
The United Nations reported last month that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the war began, including at least 240 children.
On Saturday, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that eight people were injured during settler-related attacks in the town of Huwara near Nablus.
Some injuries resulted from tear gas exposure and rubber-coated metal bullets.
Israel’s military said clashes erupted between Israelis and Palestinians following reports of livestock theft.
Officials added that footage showing an Israeli soldier using force against a Palestinian is being reviewed.
Ongoing Settlement Dispute
The territories were captured by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 war and are claimed by Palestinians as part of a future independent state.
Much of the international community considers Israeli settlements in these territories illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to a lasting peace agreement.
Gaza Ceasefire Talks Continue
As tensions remained high in the West Bank, diplomatic efforts continued regarding the conflict in Gaza.
An Israeli strike in Gaza City on Saturday killed at least seven people, including members of the same family, according to local health officials.
Israel’s military said it targeted “terrorists” operating in the area.
Meanwhile, Hamas announced that negotiators led by Khalil al-Hayyah had begun a new round of discussions in Cairo with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
The talks seek to advance implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement that took effect in October and address disputes over the next phase of the deal.
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