Israeli soldiers killed a seven-month-old Palestinian infant, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, and injured his parents after opening fire on their vehicle in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron on Friday. The military stated it believed the vehicle was accelerating toward troops, but an initial inquiry found the occupants were uninvolved civilians.
The infant’s father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, stated that the family had complied with an order to stop. He told Haaretz that he brought his car to a complete halt and raised his hands on the steering wheel before soldiers opened fire in broad daylight. The father reported that a bullet passed through his hand and struck his son, who was being held by his mother in the back seat. His wife remains in critical condition with shrapnel near her heart.
According to the Israeli rights group Yesh Din, Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians are rarely penalized, with indictments occurring in less than 1% of the 2,427 complaints filed between 2016 and 2024.
Military and Family Accounts
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that its troops “perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them,” leading a soldier to respond with “single shots toward the vehicle.” The IDF expressed “deep sorrow for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals” and noted the incident is under review.
Fahd Abu Haikal rejected this account, stating the soldier was approximately 10 meters away and could clearly see the family inside the vehicle. He noted there was no clear checkpoint, only soldiers standing in the street. At the infant’s funeral on Saturday, the father called for an investigation, stating, “I demand and expect, if there is any conscience, any law, any morality, that the soldier who fired the shots will be held accountable for his actions.”
Precedents and Broader Context
This incident follows a similar event on March 15 in Tamoun, where Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle, killing Ali Bani Odeh, his wife, Waad Bani Odeh, and their two sons, Othman and Mohammad. The human rights group B’Tselem reported that in that instance, soldiers subjected a surviving child to a violent interrogation and initially delayed ambulance access to the scene.
The recurrence of civilian casualties during vehicle stops in the West Bank highlights a significant gap between military rules of engagement and the reality on the ground. The discrepancy between the IDF’s initial assessment of “accelerating” vehicles and the accounts of families, such as the Abu Haikals, suggests that accountability processes—or the lack thereof—will remain a primary point of contention in future investigations.
What May Happen Next
The British consulate in Jerusalem has called for an “immediate and transparent investigation and accountability” regarding the death of Sam Fahd Abu Haikal. Given the father’s stated intent to pursue legal action and the public nature of the incident, the case may face pressure for a formal inquiry. Historically, however, the low rate of indictments for soldiers accused of harming Palestinians suggests that achieving legal accountability in such cases remains a significant challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the circumstances of the shooting?
According to the father, the family was driving through Hebron when soldiers signaled them to stop. He stated he brought the car to a halt and raised his hands before soldiers opened fire.
What is the status of the investigation?
The IDF has stated the incident is currently “under review.”
How many people have been killed in the region recently?
According to the UN, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the war began, including at least 240 children, with 49 people killed this year.
How do you believe transparency in military investigations affects public trust in regions of conflict?
