Israeli Military Police Probe Soldier in 7-Month-Old's Killing as Video Challenges IDF Account
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 10
Israeli Military Police Probe Soldier in 7-Month-Old's Killing as Video Challenges IDF Account
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 10
Summary
Israeli military police opened an investigation Sunday into the soldier who fired at a family car in Hebron, killing 7-month-old Sam Abu Haikal and wounding both parents.
B’Tselem-released footage appears to show the vehicle slowing to a stop near soldiers before shots were fired, undercutting the IDF’s claim that troops saw a car accelerating toward them.
Sam’s father said he halted the car and raised his hands on the wheel after a soldier signaled him to stop, then gunfire hit the vehicle; he said a bullet passed through his hand into the baby.
The videos also show soldiers not aiding the family as civilians rushed to help. The IDF said it felt “deep sorrow” for harm to uninvolved people.
The case has intensified scrutiny of accountability in the West Bank, where the UN said more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 and Yesh Din says indictments followed less than 1% of 2,427 complaints from 2016-2024.
Video contradicts official military accounts, but will Israeli investigations ever deliver justice for Palestinian victims?
With international courts condemning Israeli actions, why does impunity for violence in the West Bank continue unabated?
As the US deepens military tech ties, how can it prevent its weapons from being used in alleged war crimes?
Death of Infant Sam Fahd Abu Haikal in Hebron: A Case Study of Civilian Harm and Systemic Impunity in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank
Overview
On June 5, 2026, a tragic incident unfolded in Tel Rumeida, Hebron, when the Abu Haikal family stopped their car near a checkpoint after seeing Israeli military vehicles and soldiers. According to the grandmother, Feryal Abu Heikal, they heard gunfire, which she first thought were warning shots, but the situation escalated quickly. The shooting resulted in the death of 7-month-old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal and injuries to his parents. This event sparked conflicting narratives between the family and the Israel Defense Forces, leading to an ongoing investigation and raising serious concerns about accountability and justice in the West Bank.