Israeli Forces Kill 7-Month-Old Palestinian Baby in West Bank

Ramallah (ANTARA) - A seven-month-old Palestinian baby died on Friday (5/6) due to injuries sustained after Israeli forces opened fire on his family’s vehicle in Hebron, southern West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The infant, identified as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was severely injured when Israeli forces shot at the car in the Tel Rumeida area of southern Hebron, before being pronounced dead at the hospital, the ministry stated. Meanwhile, his mother and father sustained moderate injuries.

The baby’s father is a lecturer at Bethlehem University, and he resides with his wife and son in Bethlehem, also located in the southern West Bank, reported the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA. The family was travelling to visit a relative in central Hebron when the shooting incident occurred.

Following the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that amidst operational activities in the Hebron region, IDF soldiers perceived a vehicle speeding towards them. “An IDF soldier responded by firing a single shot at the vehicle. As a result, three Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment,” the statement said, adding that a preliminary investigation found those injured to be uninvolved civilians and that the incident is currently being reviewed.