Israeli soldier kills 7‑month‑old Palestinian baby in Hebron

On June 5‑6 2026 an Israeli soldier opened fire on a stationary car carrying a Palestinian family in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron, West Bank. The shooting struck seven‑month‑old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal in the face, killing him, wounded his mother and injured his father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University.

The family said the vehicle had stopped at the soldiers’ command and the driver raised his hands before the gunfire began. The Israeli army said the incident is under review and expressed “deep regret,” while the UN noted that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The father demanded accountability for the soldier who fired.