Israeli forces opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank, killing a seven-month-old boy and wounding his parents, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Sam Fahd Abou Haikal was killed and his parents injured in the city of Hebron on Friday “after the occupation forces opened fire on them”, the ministry said.

Infant Died in Hospital from Injuries

Dr Tareq Barbarawi told the AFP news agency that the infant was taken to hospital but died from his injuries — the incident has drawn widespread condemnation from Palestinian officials and human rights groups.

Grandmother Claims Vehicle Was Stopped

Ferial Abu Haikal. The grandmother of the infant. Told the Wafa news agency they were “surprised” when the Israeli soldiers fired at them although their vehicle was “completely stopped”, as “There was no danger or justification for firing,” she said.

The Israeli military said in a post on X that during “operational activity”, the soldiers “perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them”; it said the soldiers responded with “single shots toward the vehicle” and as a result, “three Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment”.

An initial inquiry found “those injured were uninvolved civilians”, the Israeli military said, adding that the incident was under review. The military did not specify when the review would be completed or what steps would be taken following the findings.

Escalating Violence in West Bank

Violence in the occupied West Bank has escalated since Israel began its war on Gaza in October 2023. Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,080 Palestinians in the West Bank since, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian Health Ministry data.

The killing of the infant adds to growing concerns about the impact of the conflict on civilians in the region. International organizations have repeatedly called for investigations into civilian casualties and human rights abuses on both sides of the conflict.