‘It’s not by mistake’: A family demands justice after 7-month-old killed by Israeli soldier
‘It’s not by mistake’: A family demands justice after 7-month-old killed by Israeli soldier
It s not by mistake – Last week, Fahd Abu Haikal and his family were traveling through a Palestinian city when a sudden encounter with Israeli soldiers led to a devastating tragedy. As Fahd drove, he noticed a group of soldiers ahead and began to slow his vehicle. However, just as the car came to a halt, one of the soldiers raised his rifle and fired. A bullet passed through the car’s hood, then shattered the windshield, grazed the steering wheel and Fahd’s finger before striking his son, Sam, in the head. At just seven months of age, Sam’s life was abruptly ended. His death has ignited a call for accountability from his family, who believe the shooting was intentional.
Context from B’Tselem
Sam Abu Haikal is the 13th child to be killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank this year, according to B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization. The group has documented the deaths of 236 Palestinian children in the region since the Hamas attacks on Israel began on October 7, 2023. These numbers highlight a pattern of violence that has gripped the area, with families across generations bearing the brunt of military operations. For the Abu Haikals, the loss of Sam feels like a personal reckoning, as they demand clarity and justice from the soldiers involved.
The Shooting Scene
Footage from the incident captures the moment of chaos with stark clarity. Fahd, cradling his bleeding infant, is seen desperately pressing his hand against Sam’s head, trying to stop the flow of blood. The video shows him scanning the surroundings, his expression a mix of shock and sorrow, as the cries of his mother and grandmother echo through the air. Before the car is driven away, Sam is taken into another vehicle, his fate sealed by the bullet that had already pierced his skull. “I just wanted to take him out and get him to the hospital,” Fahd recalled during a CNN interview. “When you see this, there’s no hope left.”
“They tried to save him, they gave him blood units, but nothing could be done,” Sam’s mother, Dania, said. “There was no time.”
The Israeli military later released a statement acknowledging the June 5 shooting in Hebron, explaining that soldiers had perceived the vehicle as moving toward them and responded with “single shots” to stop it. However, new video obtained by B’Tselem and shared with CNN reveals a different narrative. In this footage, Fahd’s car is seen decelerating, not accelerating, as it approaches the soldiers. Though the video lacks sound, the filmer confirmed to B’Tselem that the soldier opened fire the moment the car stopped. Both Fahd and his mother, seated in the front passenger seat, pointed to the same instant in the video when the shooting occurred. They also identified the same soldier, standing no more than 30 feet away, as the one who fired the fatal shot.
Eyewitness Accounts and Military Response
Fahd’s mother, Feryal, described the soldier’s actions with a mix of anger and disbelief. “We expected them to give us a chance, to ask us to return or shoot in the air so we could turn around,” she said. “But they only shot him.” The video further supports this claim, showing the soldier walking away from the vehicle after firing, with no attempt to assist the wounded. Witnesses on the scene reported that no one among the soldiers provided medical aid, leaving the family to grapple with the immediate aftermath.
Despite the evidence, the Israeli military has not fully explained the circumstances. While confirming an investigation into the incident, they have yet to release details about the soldier’s intent or actions. CNN’s efforts to gather more footage from the location were hindered when local residents and business owners stated that Israeli forces had returned to the area and taken all CCTV recordings. This has left the family with limited visual proof of what transpired, though their personal accounts and the video remain key to their case.
The Mother’s Struggle
Sam’s mother, Dania, has not only lost her son but also sustained life-threatening injuries. The bullet that killed Sam also struck her face, entering her right cheek and exiting behind her ear. Fragments of shrapnel remain lodged in her chest, so near to her heart that doctors opted against surgery to remove them. The physical pain is compounded by an emotional wound that is uniquely hers: the loss of her child and the inability to breastfeed him anymore. “I was breastfeeding him,” she said. “Now, my chest hurts every time I try to feed him.”
Every pump of the breast milk she uses becomes a reminder of the void left by her son’s death. Her phone’s camera roll, once filled with photos of her joyful baby, now holds a haunting collection of memories. Dania’s grief is not just personal; it is emblematic of the broader anguish felt by families in the region. “I can’t stop crying,” she added, as she recounts the moment her son’s life was taken. “It’s like I’m losing him all over again.”
Pursuit of Justice
Though the investigation is ongoing, Fahd has vowed to cooperate fully, believing that the soldier’s actions were deliberate. “When you see something in front of you and aim at it, then shoot, it’s not by accident,” he said. “He fired to kill.” The family’s determination to seek justice is mirrored in the community’s collective mourning. At a family gathering in Bethlehem, friends and relatives came and went, offering comfort to those who could not be consoled. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow, underscoring the profound impact of the loss on both the Abu Haikal family and the wider Palestinian population.
The incident has sparked renewed debate about the use of force by Israeli soldiers in civilian areas. While investigations often result in administrative decisions rather than criminal charges, the Abu Haikals remain hopeful that their son’s death will lead to a broader reckoning. “We want to know why he was targeted,” Fahd said. “We want to know if he made a mistake, or if he had every intention to kill.” As the investigation unfolds, the family waits for answers, their pain a testament to the human cost of conflict. The tragedy of Sam’s life and death continues to echo in the hearts of those who knew him, a reminder of the fragile lives caught in the crossfire of ongoing tensions.