Israeli soldiers fired warning shots near a group of 25 diplomats in Jenin on Wednesday. The city lies in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Authority had organized the visit. The goal was to assess the humanitarian situation in the area.
Delegation Deviated From Route
According to the Israeli army, it had approved the visit. However, the military claimed the delegation left the approved route. As a result, soldiers fired warning shots to make them move away from a restricted zone.
Meanwhile, video footage captured the moment gunfire broke out. Some diplomats were speaking to the media when shots rang out. They quickly took cover to stay safe.
Notably, the delegation included ambassadors and diplomats from 31 countries. These included Italy, Canada, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Kingdom.
The occupation forces opened heavy fire from inside the Jenin refugee camp to intimidate the diplomatic delegation that is conducting a field tour around the camp to witness the extent of the suffering endured by the residents of the area.
— State of Palestine - MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) May 21, 2025
قوات الاحتلال تطلق النار بشكل كثيف من… pic.twitter.com/qafjqQP0Sg
IDF Regrets the Incident
Later, the Israeli military said it regretted “the inconvenience caused.” It also said senior officials would brief the diplomats after completing an internal probe.
Earlier this year, Jenin witnessed heavy violence. In January, a major Israeli assault forced tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee. This became one of the biggest displacements in the West Bank in recent years.
No Indian Diplomats Involved
According to an Indian official, no Indian diplomats were part of the group. Therefore, they were not present when the warning shots were fired.
Diplomats Came to See War Damage
A European diplomat said the group visited to witness damage caused by Israeli military raids. These raids have continued since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Once again, the Israeli army said the convoy strayed from the set route. It said the group entered a closed military zone. Soldiers then fired warning shots to push them away. Thankfully, no one was injured. The army repeated its regret for “the inconvenience caused.”
UN Strongly Condemns Shooting
Later, the United Nations condemned the incident. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the act “unacceptable.”
“Diplomats who are doing their work should never be shot at, attacked in any way, shape or form. Their safety, their viability, must be respected at all times,” said Stephane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson.
He added, “These diplomats, including UN personnel, were fired at, warning shots or whatever… which is unacceptable.”
Global Reactions Follow
Soon after the incident, several countries expressed anger. They demanded a full investigation.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to hold those responsible “accountable.”
In addition, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay took diplomatic steps. They either summoned Israeli ambassadors or planned to raise the issue directly.
Meanwhile, Egypt said the shooting violated “all diplomatic norms.” Similarly, Turkey called for an immediate investigation.