Israeli forces kill infant Sam Abu Heikal in Hebron, West Bank

On 6 June 2026 Israeli soldiers opened fire on a civilian vehicle travelling near Tel Rimeida in the Wadi al‑Hiriya area south of Hebron. The attack killed seven‑month‑old infant Sam Fadel Abu Heikal and injured his mother, father and grandmother. The family says the car had stopped and no warning was given; a soldier later claimed he thought the vehicle was moving toward troops.

The Israeli army confirmed that the victims were civilians and opened an initial investigation, expressing “deep regret.” Palestinian officials condemned the shooting as a “field execution,” with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding international accountability and the Palestinian Prime Minister offering condolences. The incident adds to more than 1,000 Palestinian deaths in the occupied West Bank since the conflict escalated in October 2023, including roughly 240 children.