A 7-month-old Palestinian baby named Sam was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier near Hebron in the occupied West Bank earlier this month, prompting his family to speak publicly about the incident. Video evidence obtained by an Israeli rights organization appears to contradict the Israeli military’s initial account of what happened that day.
The baby’s father, 41-year-old Fahd Abu Haikal, a multimedia professor, was driving his family home from a visit when the shooting occurred. His 28-year-old wife Dania Salameh was holding baby Sam in the back seat when bullets struck the vehicle, killing the infant and injuring the mother.
Main developments
According to the family’s account, Fahd Abu Haikal was transporting his 80-year-old mother Ferial Abu Haikal home after a family visit when the incident took place. His older son Hilal, 11 years old, was also in the vehicle along with his grandmother in the front passenger seat.
One bullet hit Haikal’s hand before entering Sam’s head, killing the baby. Salameh sustained injuries requiring surgery on her jaw and chest. Hilal and the grandmother were unharmed during the shooting.
The Israeli Defense Forces initially claimed the vehicle was accelerating toward soldiers. However, video footage obtained by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, appears to contradict this claim. The video shows the car had stopped before shots were fired.
Shai Parnes, a B’Tselem spokesperson, stated regarding the incident: “The car was far from the soldiers and posed no danger to them whatsoever.”
What we know so far
The IDF acknowledged that three Palestinians were hurt during the incident. In a statement released on Thursday, the military said the incident is under investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division.
The father described the moment he realized something was wrong. “I stopped immediately, and he opened fire on the vehicle without any warning or justification,” Fahd Abu Haikal said about the soldier’s actions.
The family held a burial for baby Sam on Friday. Following the burial, the father shared his grief publicly.
“I held him in the morning; he was laughing and warm. Then evening came and I held him, but his body was cold,” Fahd Abu Haikal said about his final moments with his son.
He added: “This innocent child, who had done nothing in this world, who posed no danger at all, was killed in cold blood.”
Video evidence contradicts initial military statement
The video obtained by B’Tselem has become central to understanding what happened that day near Hebron. While the IDF’s initial statement suggested the vehicle posed a threat by accelerating toward troops, the footage shows a different sequence of events.
According to the video evidence, the car had come to a stop before the shooting began. The footage does not contain audio, so the exact timing of shots cannot be confirmed through the video alone.
The discrepancy between the military’s initial account and the video evidence has raised questions about the circumstances of the shooting. The ongoing investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division will examine these details.
Family describes pattern of settler violence
The Abu Haikal family has reported experiencing a pattern of attacks prior to this incident. According to their account, they have faced settler attacks including stones thrown at their home, crops destroyed, trees cut down, and property stolen.
The family’s experience reflects broader tensions in the occupied West Bank. The father described the killing of his son as a fundamental rights violation.
“What happened was truly an injustice and fundamentally, a violation of children’s rights,” Fahd Abu Haikal stated.
Broader context of violence against children
The death of baby Sam occurs amid ongoing violence in the region since October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led attacks took place. According to the United Nations human rights office, Israeli security forces have killed 241 children in the West Bank since that date.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that more than 21,000 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip during the same period.
What happens next
The Military Police Criminal Investigation Division continues to investigate the shooting. The IDF has not provided a timeline for when the investigation might conclude or what potential consequences the soldier involved could face.
The identity of the soldier who fired the shots has not been publicly released. The family awaits answers about why their vehicle was targeted and whether accountability will follow.
Important details
The shooting occurred near Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The exact location and specific date of the incident have not been confirmed in official statements.
Those injured in the incident include the mother Dania Salameh, who required surgery on her jaw and chest, and the father Fahd Abu Haikal, who was struck in the hand by a bullet. The 80-year-old grandmother and 11-year-old son escaped physical injury.
The IDF’s updated statement on Thursday confirmed that an investigation is underway but did not provide additional details about the circumstances of the shooting or address the contradictions raised by the B’Tselem video.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to baby Sam in the West Bank?
Seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier near Hebron in the occupied West Bank earlier this month. He was being held by his mother in the back seat of the family car when bullets struck the vehicle.
What does the video evidence show about the incident?
Video obtained by Israeli rights organization B’Tselem shows the family’s car had stopped before shots were fired, contradicting the IDF’s initial claim that the vehicle was accelerating toward soldiers. The video does not contain audio.
Is the IDF investigating the shooting?
Yes, the IDF confirmed that the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident. No timeline for the investigation’s conclusion has been provided.
Who else was injured in the shooting?
The baby’s mother, 28-year-old Dania Salameh, was injured and required surgery on her jaw and chest. The father, 41-year-old Fahd Abu Haikal, was struck in the hand by a bullet before it entered Sam’s head.
The Abu Haikal family continues to mourn the loss of their youngest member while awaiting the results of the military investigation. The case has drawn attention to the ongoing violence affecting Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank and the deaths of children in the region since October 2023.
