A video released by Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem has attracted international attention to a fatal shooting in the West Bank city of Hebron that killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby and injured both the boy's parents.
According to B’Tselem, the incident happened on June 5 in the Tel Rumeidah neighbourhood of Hebron, where members of the Abu Haikal family were returning home after visiting relatives. The organisation says the family was travelling in a private vehicle when an Israeli soldier opened fire as the car was slowing down in response to a command to stop.
The footage released by the organisation allegedly shows the car moving towards a military position at the time of the shootings before stopping. B'Tselem argues that the video indicates that the car was far away from the soldiers at the time of the firing and did not pose an immediate threat.
The shooting resulted in fatal injuries to seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal, who was in his mother’s arms in the back seat of the car, according to the family and B'Tselem. The infant was shot in the head and died.
Another video released by the organisation allegedly depicted the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Sam's father, Fahed Abu Haikal, who is seen holding his injured son and attempting to stop the bleeding in the video, is seen holding his injured son and attempting to do so. Sam's mother, Daniyah, who was also injured in the attack, is also seen in the vehicle. She is in the hospital recovering from her injuries.
New footage obtained by B’Tselem uncovers the moments when the Abu Haikal family was shot. Seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal was killed in the shooting, and both his parents were injured. The footage clearly shows that the Israeli soldier fired at the car as it was slowing to a… pic.twitter.com/rYNeMClLlj
— B'Tselem בצלם بتسيلم (@btselem) June 9, 2026
B'Tselem has criticised the soldiers involved for not checking on the wounded family members’ condition or providing medical care in the field and for leaving the scene without waiting for an investigation into what happened. The organisation has called for accountability and an investigation into the reasons for the shooting.
The incident has heightened debate over military operations and the use of force in the occupied West Bank. Human rights groups have voiced concerns about civilian casualties, especially among children, in the region at a time of continued tensions and violence.
Israeli authorities have made no public report of the incident at the time of publication. As in so many cases of civilian casualties in conflict territory, there has been confusion, competing narratives and interpretations of events. Advocacy groups, international organizations, and humanitarian organisations have been calling for an independent and transparent investigation to be launched and for a more complete picture to emerge of what happened.
The news of the infant’s death has generated widespread reactions across social media and among human rights advocates, who described it as a tragic loss. The case has also reignited discussion of the protection of civilians and specifically children in places of long-term conflict.
The footage of Sam Abu Haikal’s death is likely to play a key role in understanding what happened as investigations continue.
