Israeli forces shoot dead Palestinian baby, wound his parents in West Bank

Israeli forces fatally shot a seven-month-old Palestinian infant and wounded his parents in the Tel Rumeida area, south of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank on Friday evening, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The infant, identified as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, died at the scene, while his parents sustained gunshot wounds and are reported to be in moderate condition.

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One bullet struck my grandson, traversed his face and crossed his head, striking his mother’s cheek where it lodged

The baby's grandmother recounted that the family was traveling near Checkpoint 17 when they observed Israeli military vehicles and soldiers. They stopped their car, and shots were subsequently fired. Initially, they believed these were warning shots. She described the bullet striking her grandson, passing through his face and head, and then hitting his mother's cheek, where it lodged. The father's finger was also grazed by the bullet, and the mother is hospitalized.

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soldiers perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them and one soldier fired single shots at the vehicle

The Israeli military issued a statement acknowledging that during operational activity in the Hebron area, soldiers perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them. Consequently, one soldier fired single shots at the vehicle. The military confirmed that three Palestinians were wounded and evacuated for medical treatment. An initial military inquiry determined that those injured were "uninvolved civilians." The incident is currently under review, and the findings will be submitted to the relevant authorities.

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those injured were “uninvolved civilians”