A Palestinian man holds the body of his seven-month-old baby who was killed by Israeli forces in Hebron, the southern West Bank, on June 6, 2026. A seven-month-old Palestinian infant died from his wounds on Friday after Israeli forces opened fire on his family's vehicle in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, June 5 (Xinhua) -- A seven-month-old Palestinian infant died from his wounds on Friday after Israeli forces opened fire on his family's vehicle in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.

The infant, identified as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was critically wounded when Israeli forces fired on the car in the Tel Rumeida area, south of Hebron, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital, the ministry said in a statement. His mother and father sustained moderate injuries.

The infant's father is a lecturer at Bethlehem University, and he lives with his wife and the son in Bethlehem, also in the southern West Bank, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

The family was on their way to visit a relative's home in central Hebron when the shooting happened, WAFA said.

Following the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that "during operational activity in the area of Hebron, IDF soldiers perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them."

"An IDF soldier responded with single shots toward the vehicle. As a result, three Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment," it said, adding that an initial inquiry found that those injured were "uninvolved civilians" and the incident is under review. ■

People mourn for a seven-month-old Palestinian infant who was killed by Israeli forces in Hebron, the southern West Bank, on June 6, 2026. A seven-month-old Palestinian infant died from his wounds on Friday after Israeli forces opened fire on his family's vehicle in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

People mourn for a seven-month-old Palestinian infant who was killed by Israeli forces in Hebron, the southern West Bank, on June 6, 2026. A seven-month-old Palestinian infant died from his wounds on Friday after Israeli forces opened fire on his family's vehicle in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

A Palestinian man holds the body of his seven-month-old baby who was killed by Israeli forces in Hebron, the southern West Bank, on June 6, 2026. A seven-month-old Palestinian infant died from his wounds on Friday after Israeli forces opened fire on his family's vehicle in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)