Foreign Diplomats Come under ’Israeli’ Fire
By Staff, Agencies
"Israeli" occupation forces [IOF] fired shots near a group of foreign diplomats visiting the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, prompting representatives from over 20 countries and accompanying journalists to scramble for cover, according to videos from the scene.
The tour, organized by the Palestinian Authority, included delegates from dozens of countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Mexico, Egypt, and others.
No injuries were reported, but video footage showed diplomats fleeing in panic as gunfire erupted at around 2pm local time.
The IOF claimed the delegation had deviated from its pre-approved route and entered an unauthorized area, which they described as an “active combat zone.”
The IOF further claimed that their forces operating in the area fired warning shots to distance them.
The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry described the shooting as a violation of international law, asserting that the delegation was on an official mission to assess humanitarian conditions amid growing international criticism of "Israel’s" aggression on Gaza and the West Bank.
International leaders swiftly 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 Kaja Kallas also labeled the act of firing near diplomats “unacceptable” and called for accountability.
For its part, the Egyptian foreign ministry said the incident “violates all diplomatic norms,” while Turkey’s foreign ministry “strongly condemned” the firing of warning shots at its diplomats.
