Israeli military forces shot and killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby and wounded both of his parents on Friday evening in the Tel Rumeida area, located south of the West Bank city of Hebron.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, the deceased infant has been identified as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal. The ministry confirmed that the baby died at the scene of the shooting, while his parents sustained gunshot wounds and are currently in moderate condition.
The incident took place near Checkpoint 17, where the family was driving when they encountered the military. Providing details of the attack, the baby’s grandmother stated that the family stopped their vehicle after spotting Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the distance.
The soldiers immediately opened fire on the car. The family initially assumed that the gunfire consisted of warning shots.
Describing the impact of the live ammunition, the grandmother stated, “One bullet struck my grandson, traversed his face and crossed his head, striking his mother’s cheek where it lodged”.
She further added that the same bullet managed to graze the father’s finger. The mother has since been admitted to the hospital for medical treatment.
The shooting occurred in Tel Rumeida, a neighborhood in Hebron where illegal Israeli settlers reside under heavy military protection amidst the local Palestinian population.
This specific area has remained a persistent flashpoint for ethnic cleansing within the occupied West Bank.
