Credited from: TRTGLOBAL
Israeli troops opened fire on Wednesday during a visit by a diplomatic delegation, which was organized to assess the humanitarian situation in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin. The Israeli military claimed that the delegation had deviated from an approved route and entered an area where they were not authorized to be. Soldiers reportedly fired "warning shots" to disperse the group, prompting condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, which accused the Israeli forces of deliberately targeting an accredited diplomatic delegation, according to aa and trtglobal.
The delegation included representatives from more than 20 nations, including Egypt, Jordan, the EU, and several others, who were there to document the ongoing humanitarian crisis and recent Israeli military operations. Video evidence documented the moments of panic as the diplomats fled from the gunfire, which drew widespread criticism from various international officials. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the firing of shots as "unacceptable," urging Israel to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable, as reported by bbc, aa, and cbsnews.
Many countries condemned the incident, emphasizing the breach of diplomatic norms and demanding an inquiry. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Germany's government voiced strong disapproval, with Tajani stating he would summon the Israeli ambassador for clarification. Belgian authorities also demanded a "convincing explanation," while Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned the gunfire as a serious breach of international law, according to reuters and dawn.
The incident occurs during heightened tensions due to Israel's ongoing military operations in both Gaza and the West Bank, which have spurred international concern over humanitarian conditions. The situation remains volatile as diplomatic relations strain under the pressure of ongoing violence and calls for accountability for actions taken against diplomats in conflict zones. This incident exemplifies the global response to what many label as excessive force by Israeli defense forces, as highlighted by various reports on the escalating conflict, according to scmp and lemonde.