Israeli soldier kills infant in Hebron as family alleges evidence was seized
Fahd Abu Haikal’s seven-month-old son, Sam, was shot dead by an Israeli soldier near Tel Rumeida on Friday, leaving his mother in critical condition and prompting allegations of evidence tampering.
A seven-month-old Palestinian boy, Sam Abu Haikal, was killed by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, an incident that has drawn sharp attention to the security protocols and governance structures operating in the occupied territory. The infant was travelling in a vehicle with his mother, Dania Salameh, and brother, Kinan, when soldiers appeared near Tel Rumeida, a neighbourhood with a significant Israeli settlement presence.
Fahd Abu Haikal, the father, stated that he stopped the car and raised his hands to signal non-aggression as soldiers emerged from the darkness. Despite these gestures, a soldier fired at the vehicle, with a bullet piercing the windshield and striking Sam instantly. The projectile also wounded Dania, leaving shrapnel lodged near her heart. Medical personnel opted against surgical removal of the fragment due to the proximity to a major artery, leaving her in critical condition.
Abu Haikal alleges that the soldiers withdrew from the scene without offering medical assistance and subsequently confiscated security camera footage from the area. He expressed little hope for legal accountability, citing the army’s actions at the scene as indicative of a broader pattern of impunity. The father intends to file a legal case against the soldier but noted that no investigators have contacted the family regarding the incident.
The shooting has exacerbated existing tensions in Hebron, where Israeli forces have tightened control since October 2023. Residents of Tel Rumeida, including Issa Amro of the Youth Against Settlements group, have described the area as an open-air prison, citing constant fear of violence and restricted movement. Amro stated that Palestinians in the area live in terror, expecting to be shot without justification, while families report feeling targeted by the military presence.
The incident has left the family in deep distress, with Abu Haikal waiting a day to inform his wife of their son’s death due to her critical condition. His eldest son, Kinan, is reported to be in a difficult psychological state, while the grandmother, Ferial, recalled the infant as a quiet and cheerful child. The event underscores the volatile security environment in Hebron, where violence against Palestinians, including children, has increased in recent months.
