Military police opens probe into killing of Palestinian infant by IDF fire in Hebron

The Military Police Investigations Unit has opened an investigation into the shooting in which a 7-month-old baby was killed by IDF fire in Hebron, the IDF Spokesperson said today, Sunday. According to the statement, the shooting took place during operational activity in the city on Friday. According to the IDF, the Military Police conducted a preliminary examination, and at its conclusion it was decided to open an investigation.

The baby and his family were hit by IDF fire while they were in their vehicle. The IDF said at the time, “IDF forces operating in the area felt that a vehicle was accelerating toward them. An IDF soldier responded with a few shots toward the vehicle. As a result, three Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment. Initial questioning indicates that they were uninvolved. The incident is under review, and its findings will be forwarded for examination by the relevant authorities. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians.”

The family that was hit lives in Bethlehem. The father, Fahd Abu Haikel, is a lecturer at Bethlehem University and had come to Hebron with his family to visit his parents, who live in Tel Rumeida, an area under Israeli control. The father and mother were moderately wounded in the shooting, and the baby, Sam Abu Haikel, was critically injured and died in the hospital.

As a reminder, in March, a Palestinian family, a couple and two children ages 7 and 5, was killed by IDF fire in the Jordan Valley village of Tammoun, after an IDF force operating there thought their vehicle was accelerating toward it.