Get you up to speed: Israeli troops kill Palestinian baby in occupied West Bank | News World
A seven-month-old Palestinian baby, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was killed on Friday when Israeli soldiers opened fire on his parents’ vehicle in the Tel Rumeida area south of Hebron City, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The infant’s parents were wounded, and the Israeli military stated that troops fired after believing the vehicle posed a threat.
Israeli military officials have stated that a preliminary inquiry has determined that those injured were innocent civilians, and a review of the circumstances is ongoing. The shooting incident reflects increasing military activity in the West Bank that has coincided with the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in over 1,000 Palestinian fatalities in the region since October 7, 2023.
The Israeli military expressed regret for “any harm caused to uninvolved individuals” and stated that an ongoing review of the incident is underway. Fahd Abu Haikal, the infant’s father, has called for a thorough investigation and accountability, insisting that “this case must not be closed without an investigation and without accountability.”
What remains unclear — It is not specified when the Israeli military’s review of the shooting incident will be completed.
Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian baby in occupied West Bank shooting
Fahd Abu Haikal, 41 displays a mobile photo of his seven month old Palestinian baby boy Sam, who was killed on Friday when Israeli soldiers fired at their vehicle (Picture: AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A Palestinian baby has been killed by Israeli soldiers who opened fire on his parents’ car in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.
Sam Fahd Abu Haikal was killed Friday evening, and his parents were wounded while driving in the Tel Rumeida area south of Hebron City, according to the ministry.
Local reports said he was struck in the face by the same bullet that wounded his mother.
He was rushed to hospital where he died later on.
Fahd Abu Haikal, 41 carries the body of his seven month old Palestinian baby boy Sam, who was killed on Friday. (Picture: AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
The child care bag of the seven month old baby Sam Fahd Abu Haikal. (Picture: AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
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A man inspects the shattered car of the family after they were shot at. (Picture: AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
The infant’s father, Fahd Abdul Aziz Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, was reportedly shot in the hand.
In a statement, the Israeli military said troops fired at a vehicle in the Hebron area after thinking it was accelerating towards them.
The army said soldiers discharged single rounds, resulting in injuries to three Palestinians who were subsequently evacuated for treatment.
The IDF said it was ‘deeply’ sorry for ‘any harm caused to uninvolved individuals’.
Mourners pray over the body of seven month old Palestinian baby boy Sam Fahd Abu Haikal. (Picture: AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
But Fahd told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz: ‘The soldier was about ten meters away from me. He saw me, he saw my wife and the children.
‘The car windows were not dark, it was daylight and everything was clear. You can’t say he didn’t see that it was a family.’
The father called for an investigation into the incident. He told the newspaper: ‘I demand and expect, if there is any conscience, any law, any morality, that the soldier who shot will be held accountable for his actions.
‘This case must not be closed without an investigation and without accountability. At least I don’t intend to give up.’
Israeli military officials said a preliminary inquiry concluded that the injured were innocent civilians, while a review of the circumstances is ongoing.
The shooting comes amid heightened Israeli military activity across the West Bank following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel.
More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the outbreak of the war, the United Nations reported.
Since October 7, more than 72,900 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Healthy Ministry.
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