A seven‑month‑old Palestinian boy was killed and his parents wounded when Israeli soldiers fired on their car in the Tel Rumeida area south of Hebron on Friday evening ,according to the Palestinian health ministry and the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Tel Rumeida Shooting Claims a Baby’s Life

The incident occurred while the family was traveling from Bethlehem to Hebron to visit relatives. The baby , Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was struck by a bullet that entered his face and exited on the other side, killing him instantly. His father, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, was shot in the hand ,and his mother was critically wounded with shrapnel lodged near her heart, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.

Israeli Military’s “Uninvolved Civilians” Narrative

The Israeli military said an initial inquiry found the injured were “uninvolved civilians” and that the soldiers had fired after perceiving the vehicle as accelerating toward them. The soldiers reportedly responded with single shots that wounded three Palestinians, who were evacuated for medical treatment. The statement was released by the Israeli Defense Forces and has been echoed in several Israeli news outlets.

Family’s Account Highlights Shock and Horror

At Al‑Ahly Hospital in Hebron, the father described the moment: “A bullet struck the car’s windshield before piercing my hand, then my son and wife. It entered the child’s face on the right side and exited on the left, then passed directly into his mother’s face and exited on the other side, with shrapnel lodged near her heart.” The grandmother, Feryal Abu Heikal,recounted seeing Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the distance, initially mistaking the shots for warning fire.

Escalating West Bank Violence Since October 7

The shooting is part of a broader surge in West Bank casualties that began with the Israel‑Hamas war triggered by the October 7,2023 Hamas attack. According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the war began, including at least 240 children. This year alone, 49 people have been killed in the West Bank.

Unanswered Questions About the Incident

Key questions remain: Why did the soldiers perceive the vehicle as a threat? What evidence supports the claim that the car was accelerating toward them? And how will the Israeli military’s internal review address the fatal outcome for a child?

According to the report, the Israeli military’s review is ongoing, but no definitive findings have been released. Human rights groups have called for accountability, citing repeated concerns over lethal force against civilians in the occupied territories.