A seven-month-old Palestinian infant was killed and his parents were injured after Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicle in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
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The ministry identified the infant as Sam Abu Haikal. His father, Fahd Abdul Aziz Abu Haikal, is a lecturer at Bethlehem University and lives with his family in Bethlehem. The family was reportedly travelling to visit relatives in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood when the incident occurred on Friday.
IDF troops fire at vehicle in Hebron, killing 7-month-old baby and wounding his parents – The Times of Israel https://t.co/rScfDo0aex #IDF #Hebron #Palestine #IsraeliConflict #WestBank
— Iranian Diaspora Cooperation & Development Council (@Irandiasporaa) June 6, 2026
According to Palestinian officials, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition at the family’s vehicle as it was passing through the area. The father sustained injuries to his hand during the shooting. The same bullet is reported to have struck his wife before piercing the jaw of their infant son.
All three family members were rushed to hospital for treatment. Medical officials later confirmed that the infant succumbed to his injuries, while both parents remained wounded.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to the security situation in the occupied West Bank, where violence has intensified alongside the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Palestinian authorities have repeatedly raised concerns about military operations, shootings, arrests and restrictions affecting civilians across the territory.
The Tel Rumeida area of Hebron has long been a flashpoint due to the close proximity of Israeli military positions, Palestinian residents and Israeli settlers. Security incidents and confrontations are frequent in the neighborhood, which is subject to heavy military presence.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the occupied West Bank has experienced a significant increase in military raids, clashes and settlement-related tensions. Palestinian officials say hundreds of Palestinians have been killed or injured during this period.
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The latest shooting is expected to further fuel concerns over civilian safety and the escalating violence affecting communities across the occupied Palestinian territories.