Israeli soldiers fired warning shots near a group of foreign diplomats visiting the Jenin Refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, triggering panic among the diplomats and prompting the media personnel to run for cover, according to video footage from the scene. The visit was organised by the Palestinian Authority, accompanied by delegates from dozens of countries, including the UK, France, Canada, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Mexico, Egypt, and others.
Although no injuries were reported, the video showed diplomats fleeing in panic as gunfire erupted around 2 pm local time. The Israeli defence forces, in their statement, claimed that the delegation had deviated from its pre-approved route and entered an unauthorised area, which they described as an “active combat zone.” The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed the delegation had deviated from its pre-approved route and entered an unauthorised area, which they described as an “active combat zone."
“According to an initial inquiry, the delegation deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not authorised to be. IDF soldiers operating in the area fired warning shots to distance them,” the IDF said, expressing regret for the “inconvenience caused.” Meanwhile, the incident prompted a strong response from the Palestinian Authority, which saw it as a violation of international law, saying that the delegation was on an official mission to assess humanitarian conditions amid growing international criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
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As the news about the incident spread, the international community quickly condemned the incident. France and Italy summoned Israeli ambassadors for explanations. Ireland’s deputy prime minister called the event “completely unacceptable,” while Canada demanded a full investigation. European Union foreign policy chief KajaKallas also labelled the act of firing near diplomats “unacceptable” and called for accountability.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian foreign ministry said the incident “violates all diplomatic norms,” while Türkiye’s foreign ministry “strongly condemned” the firing of warning shots at its diplomats. The Israeli military initiated a major operation in the West Bank in January, dubbed ‘Iron Wall,’ with forces taking control of Jenin and installing metal gates at the entrances to the refugee camp.
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