Palestinian baby killed by Israeli gunfire in occupied West Bank, health ministry says
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A seven-month-old Palestinian baby was killed by Israeli gunfire in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
- The baby's parents were also wounded in the incident, which occurred near Hebron.
- The Israeli military stated soldiers fired at a vehicle that appeared to be accelerating towards them, and an initial inquiry suggested the wounded Palestinians were civilians.
A seven-month-old Palestinian baby died and his parents were injured after Israeli troops opened fire on their car in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry reported. The ministry stated the infant was struck in the face by a bullet. The Israeli military responded that soldiers fired at a vehicle perceived to be accelerating towards them near Hebron, adding that an initial investigation indicated the three Palestinians injured were uninvolved civilians.
He was the entire world
The baby's father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, recounted to The Associated Press that a bullet hit the car's windshield before piercing his right hand and striking his son and wife in the back seat. Journalists observed the car, noting another bullet had struck the hood. The infant's grandmother, Feryal Abu Heikal, was also present and described the scene as horrific, questioning the actions of the Israeli army.
At the end they tell you it was a mistake. Nothing is called a mistake.
Data from the Israeli rights group Yesh Din indicates that Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians are rarely held accountable, with fewer than 1% of cases resulting in indictments between 2016 and 2024. The incident occurred amidst a surge in Israeli military activity and settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The baby was laid to rest in Hebron on Saturday, wrapped in a Palestinian flag, following funeral prayers.
The scene was horrific to see a seven-month-old baby with a smashed face. What kind of army in the world does this?
Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.