Israeli Forces Fatally Shoot 7-month-old Palestinian Infant

WHO:

The Guardian - The boy’s grandmother, Firyal Abu Haykal, stated, “The incident is unbelievable and unacceptable. We are being harmed just because we decided to stay at our homes.”

The Guardian - Fahd Abu Haikal, the father, stated, “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.”

CNN - The victim was identified as Sam Fahd Abu Haykal, a 7-month-old Palestinian baby.

The Guardian - The father of the baby is Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University.

The Guardian - The grandmother of the baby is Firyal Abu Haykal.

WHAT:

CNN - The Israeli military stated that an initial inquiry found those injured were uninvolved civilians.

The Guardian - The father, Fahd Abu Haikal, stated, “The soldier signalled me to stop. I brought the car to a complete halt and raised my hands on the steering wheel. Immediately afterwards, they opened fire on the vehicle.”

AP News - The bullet that struck Sam Fahd Abu Haykal passed through his face.

AP News - The mother of Sam Fahd Abu Haykal was reported to be in critical condition, with shrapnel close to her heart.

AP News - The baby’s body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag, and his father carried him during a prayer.

AP News - The bullet that struck Sam Fahd Abu Haykal passed through his face.

AP News - The mother of Sam Fahd Abu Haykal was reported to be in critical condition, with shrapnel close to her heart.

AP News - The baby’s body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag, and his father carried him during a prayer.

The Guardian - The father, Fahd Abu Haikal, stated, “The soldier was about 10 metres away from me. He saw me, he saw my wife and the children.”

The Guardian - The father described that a bullet passed through his hand and struck his son, who was being held by his mother in the back seat.

AP News - A bullet struck Sam Fahd Abu Haykal in the face, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

AP News - The mother of Sam Fahd Abu Haykal was reported to be in critical condition, with shrapnel close to her heart.

AP News - The baby’s body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag, and his father carried him during a prayer.

AP News - The father, Fahd Abu Haikal, stated, “At the end they tell you it was a mistake. Nothing is called a mistake.”

AP News - The Israeli rights group Yesh Din reported that soldiers accused of harming Palestinians were indicted in fewer than 1% of cases based on 2,427 complaints from 2016 to 2024.

CNN - The Israeli military acknowledged that the incident is under review.

The Guardian - The Israeli military expressed “deep sorrow for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals.”

CNN - The Israeli military acknowledged that those injured were “uninvolved civilians” and stated that the incident is under review.

The Guardian - The father described the incident, saying, “I stopped as I was instructed to, and then they simply shot at the car.”

CNN - Israeli soldiers shot and killed Sam Fahd Abu Haykal and wounded his parents.

The Guardian - The Israeli military stated that troops fired at a vehicle they believed was moving towards them, resulting in the death of the baby and injuries to his parents.

CBS News World - The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the death of Sam Fahd Abu Haykal and the injuries to his parents.

WHERE:

CNN - The incident occurred in the occupied West Bank, near the city of Hebron.

The Guardian - The specific area mentioned is Tel Rumeida in Hebron.

WHEN:

CNN - The shooting occurred on a Friday evening.

The Guardian - The incident took place during daylight.

WHY:

The Guardian - The father, Fahd Abu Haikal, called for an investigation, stating, “This case must not be closed without an investigation and without accountability. At the very least, I do not intend to give up.”

The Guardian - Fahd Abu Haikal 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. This case must not be closed without an investigation and without accountability. At the very least, I do not intend to give up.”

The Guardian - The father rejected the military’s account, asserting that the soldier could clearly see the family in the vehicle.

CNN - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed soldiers perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them, prompting the gunfire.

The Guardian - The father, Fahd Abu Haikal, stated that they complied with an order to stop before the shooting began.

HOW:

AP News - The bullet struck the windshield before piercing the father's right hand and hitting his son and wife in the back seat. Another bullet struck the hood of the car.

The Guardian - The IDF stated that one of the soldiers “responded with single shots toward the vehicle.”

CNN - A soldier fired a single shot at the vehicle.

The Guardian - The father described that a bullet passed through his hand and struck his son, who was being held by his mother in the back seat.

(UPDATED June 7, 2026 06:17 UTC)

The Israeli military has reported that an initial inquiry found those injured in a recent incident were uninvolved civilians. Fahd Abu Haikal, the father of a young boy who was shot, described how soldiers signaled him to stop before opening fire on his vehicle, resulting in his son being struck in the face and his wife sustaining critical injuries from shrapnel. In a poignant moment, the family mourned their loss as the baby’s body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag, while Fahd called for an investigation, insisting that accountability is necessary.

(UPDATED June 6, 2026 21:16 UTC)

A tragic incident has unfolded involving Sam Fahd Abu Haykal, who was struck by a bullet that passed through his face, while his mother is reported to be in critical condition with shrapnel near her heart. The baby's body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag as his father, Fahd Abu Haikal, carried him during a prayer, and he recounted that a bullet hit his hand before striking his son, who was being held by his mother in the back seat. Fahd has called for an investigation into the shooting, insisting that accountability is necessary and stating, “This case must not be closed without an investigation and without accountability. At the very least, I do not intend to give up.”

(UPDATED June 6, 2026 19:19 UTC)

A tragic incident has been reported involving Sam Fahd Abu Haykal, who was struck in the face by a bullet, while his mother is in critical condition due to shrapnel near her heart. The baby’s body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag, and his father carried him during a prayer, expressing his grief by stating, “At the end they tell you it was a mistake. Nothing is called a mistake.” Additionally, the Israeli rights group Yesh Din revealed that soldiers accused of harming Palestinians were indicted in fewer than 1% of cases from 2016 to 2024, based on a total of 2,427 complaints.

(UPDATED June 6, 2026 17:18 UTC)

The Israeli military is currently reviewing an incident that has drawn significant attention, with the family of a young boy expressing their outrage and calling for accountability. Firyal Abu Haykal, the boy's grandmother, described the situation as "unbelievable and unacceptable," while Fahd Abu Haikal demanded an investigation into the actions of the soldier who fired shots at their vehicle. The IDF has acknowledged that one of its soldiers responded with single shots, and they have expressed "deep sorrow for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals."

(UPDATED June 6, 2026 15:18 UTC)

Fahd Abu Haikal, the father of a family involved in a recent incident, is demanding accountability from the soldier who fired shots at their vehicle, insisting that the soldier could clearly see them inside. The Israeli military has acknowledged that those injured were “uninvolved civilians” and is currently reviewing the incident, which Abu Haikal describes as unprovoked, stating he stopped as instructed before the shots were fired. The IDF confirmed that one of their soldiers “responded with single shots toward the vehicle,” but the father rejects this explanation.

(UPDATED June 6, 2026 13:19 UTC)

A seven-month-old Palestinian baby named Sam Fahd Abu Haykal was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank near Hebron, while his parents were also wounded in the incident. The Israeli military stated that troops fired at a vehicle they believed was approaching them aggressively, but the father, Fahd Abu Haikal, insisted they had complied with an order to stop before the shooting began. A soldier fired a single shot, which passed through the father's hand and struck the baby, who was being held by his mother in the back seat.