In a tragic incident that unfolded in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron on Friday, a seven‑month‑old Palestinian infant, named Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was killed by a bullet fired by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF); the baby’s parents were also wounded, the Palestinian health ministry confirmed.
The infant’s grandmother described how the family was driving when Israeli soldiers fired a burst of shots. Initially thinking the bullets were warning shots, the family realized they had struck the child, with the bullet skimming his face and head and lodging in the mother’s cheek, ultimately killing the baby.
According to the IDF, troops perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them and responded with single shots. Consequently, three Palestinians, including the baby’s parents, were injured and transported to medical facilities. The incident remains under review and the IDF expressed “deep sorrow” for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals.
This event occurs amid a broader conflict that erupted following the Hamas‑led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Since then, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in the West Bank and over 70,600 Gaza casualties have been documented, according to sources in the Gaza health ministry.
