Palestinian infant fatally shot by ‘Israeli’ forces in Hebron

‘Israeli’ troops fired on a Palestinian family vehicle in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron on Friday, resulting in the death of a seven-month-old infant and light to moderate injuries to his parents, according to Palestinian health authorities.

The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health and the official Wafa news agency reported that the incident took place in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood, a sensitive zone in the divided city of Hebron characterized by ‘Israeli’ settlements and heightened security tensions.

The family was traveling in the area when soldiers opened fire on their vehicle.

The infant, identified as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, sustained a head wound and succumbed to his injuries on Friday evening.

Palestinian Red Crescent crews transported the victims to Hebron Governmental Hospital.

Tariq Barabrawi, director of the hospital, told AFP by phone that the infant arrived in critical condition and medical staff attempted to save his life.

"The mother sustained moderate injuries, while the father's injuries were minor," he added.

Eyewitness accounts cited by Palestinian media indicated that the vehicle was passing through the area when shots were fired without prior warning.

Regarding the killing, the ‘Israeli’ military said in a statement that soldiers “perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them”.

“An IDF soldier responded with single shots toward the vehicle. As a result, three Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment,” the statement continued.

“An initial inquiry found that those injured were uninvolved civilians,” it added.

Hebron remains one of the most volatile locations in the occupied West Bank, with Tel Rumeida featuring a mix of Palestinian residents and ‘Israeli’ settler communities under strict military oversight.

The area has seen repeated incidents of violence, restrictions on movement, and clashes over the years.