Israeli soldiers open fire at car in West Bank; 7-month-old infant dies

A seven-month-old Palestinian baby was killed and his parents injured after Israeli troops opened fire on their family vehicle in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to the child’s family and Israeli authorities.The infant, identified as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to hospital following the shooting on Friday.Sam’s father, Fahd Abu Haikal, while speaking to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, said he had complied with soldiers’ instructions to stop the vehicle before shots were fired.“The soldier signalled me to stop. I brought the car to a complete halt and raised my hands on the steering wheel. Immediately afterwards, they opened fire on the vehicle.”Israeli military says troops perceived threatThe Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said soldiers opened fire after believing the vehicle was accelerating towards them.However, Abu Haikal rejected suggestions that the occupants could have been mistaken for a threat, saying the vehicle’s windows were clear and the family was visible in broad daylight.The military later stated that an initial inquiry found those injured were civilians who were not involved in any hostile activity. The incident remains under review.Incident adds to growing death tollThe shooting occurred against the backdrop of continuing violence in the occupied West Bank.According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 Palestinians, including at least 240 children, have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the start of the Gaza war, AP reported.More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state.