Palestinian Infant Killed, Parents Injured by Israeli Forces in West Bank

West Bank. A seven-month-old Palestinian infant died after being shot by Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Hebron, while his parents were injured. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, this incident occurred on Friday evening in the Tel Rumeida area, south of Hebron city.

The Ministry of Health identified the deceased infant as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal. The infant died at the scene from the gunshot wound, while his parents sustained moderate injuries.

According to the infant's grandmother, her family was driving near Checkpoint 17 when they saw Israeli military vehicles and soldiers at a distance, prompting them to stop the car. As they stopped, soldiers fired shots in their direction, which the family initially thought were warning shots.

Describing the horrific nature of the incident, the infant's grandmother said, 'A bullet hit my grandson, piercing his face and head, entering his mother's cheek and getting lodged there.' She informed that the bullet also grazed the father's finger slightly and that the injured mother is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

In response, the Israeli army claimed that during a military operation in the Hebron area on Friday, soldiers observed a vehicle approaching them at high speed. The army stated that as the vehicle was speeding, a soldier fired a shot targeting the vehicle in self-defense. The Israeli army admitted that three Palestinians were injured in the incident and were sent to the hospital for treatment.

An initial investigation by the military team confirmed that those injured and killed by the gunfire were 'innocent civilians' not involved in any incident. The Israeli army clarified that a serious review of this incident is underway and the final report will be submitted to the relevant high authorities.

The Tel Rumeida area, where the incident occurred, is a sensitive location in Hebron, with Israeli settlements interspersed among Palestinian residents, who are provided with heavy security by the Israeli army. For this reason, this area has long been a center of violence in the Israeli-controlled West Bank.

According to a 2024 European Union report, over 700,000 Israeli settlers are currently living in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, areas where more than 3 million Palestinians reside. -Reuters