Ministry of Foreign Affairs Condemns the Killing of Infant Sam Abu Heikal by Israeli Occupation Forces and Calls for International Accountability
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemns the horrific crime committed by Israeli occupation forces in Hebron, where soldiers deliberately and directly opened fire on a Palestinian civilian vehicle despite it having come to a complete stop. The attack resulted in the killing of seven-month-old infant Sam Abu Heikal and the injury of his parents, who sustained wounds of varying severity.
The Ministry affirms that this crime constitutes an extrajudicial execution and represents a grave manifestation of the continued policy of targeting Palestinian civilians, including children and other protected persons. It is a blatant violation of the most fundamental humanitarian principles, international norms, and the provisions of international humanitarian law. The Ministry further notes that the inclusion of Israel and its agents on the United Nations list of parties responsible for grave violations against children in armed conflict must be accompanied by effective mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.
The Ministry stresses that the recurrence of such crimes reflects a systematic and deliberate pattern, enabled by the persistent impunity enjoyed by those responsible for crimes against the Palestinian people. This impunity encourages the occupation system to continue its policies of genocide and forced displacement throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
The Ministry holds the Israeli government fully and directly responsible for this crime and calls on the international community, United Nations institutions, and competent international judicial bodies to take immediate action to hold those responsible accountable, ensure the prosecution of the perpetrators, provide urgent international protection for the children of Palestine and the Palestinian people, and put an end to the culture of impunity that undermines international justice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates reiterates its commitment to pursuing political, legal, and diplomatic efforts in all international forums to ensure accountability for such crimes and prevent perpetrators from escaping justice. It also remains committed to protecting the Palestinian people from systematic targeting, including acts of genocide and forced displacement, and to advancing the realization of the independent Palestinian State on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.