A seven-month-old Palestinian infant was killed and his parents were wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicle in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday, according to Palestinian health authorities and the Israeli military.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the child as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal and said he died from his injuries after the shooting.
His parents sustained gunshot wounds and were reported to be in moderate condition.
The incident is under review by the Israeli military, which said an initial inquiry found those injured were uninvolved civilians.
According to Palestinian officials and family members, the family was travelling in Hebron when soldiers opened fire on their vehicle.
Relatives said the car had stopped after encountering Israeli forces in the area.
The infant was critically injured and later died, while both parents were wounded.
Family members disputed the military’s account of events and said there was no threat that justified the shooting.
The child's grandmother said the family had stopped the vehicle after seeing soldiers and military vehicles nearby.
She said they were surprised when shots were fired toward the car.
The Israeli military said soldiers conducting "operational activity" in the Hebron area believed a vehicle was accelerating toward them.
According to the military, one soldier fired single shots at the vehicle, resulting in injuries to three Palestinians who were evacuated for medical treatment.
The military later stated that an initial inquiry found those wounded were uninvolved civilians and said the findings would be submitted to relevant authorities.
It added that the incident remains under review.
The shooting occurred in Tel Rumeida, a part of Hebron that has long been a focal point of tensions and confrontations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The incident comes amid heightened violence in the territory since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
According to figures cited by Palestinian authorities and international organizations, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem during that period.
The death of the infant has renewed scrutiny of "military operations" in the territory and prompted calls from family members for accountability and a full investigation into the shooting.