Daijiworld Media Network - Hebron

Hebron, Jun 6: A seven-month-old Palestinian infant was killed and his parents injured after Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicle in the Tel Rumeida area near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian health authorities. The Israeli military has launched an investigation into the incident and expressed condolences over the death.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the child as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal. Officials said the infant died from injuries sustained in the shooting, while his mother and father were wounded and taken for medical treatment.

According to family members, the family was travelling near Checkpoint 17 when they noticed Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the area. They reportedly stopped their vehicle before shots were fired. The infant was critically injured, while the mother suffered a facial wound and the father sustained a hand injury.

In a statement, the Israeli military said troops operating in the Hebron area believed a vehicle was accelerating towards them, prompting a soldier to fire at the vehicle. An initial inquiry later found that those injured were uninvolved civilians.

The military said the incident remains under review and that the findings would be submitted to the relevant authorities. It also conveyed regret over harm caused to civilians not involved in the conflict.

The shooting occurred in Tel Rumeida, a sensitive area of Hebron where Israeli settlers live under heavy military protection amid a large Palestinian population. The area has long been a flashpoint for tensions and violence in the West Bank.

The incident has drawn widespread attention as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.