There has been a wave of strong international condemnation following gunfire by the Israeli army targeting a group of foreign diplomats visiting Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred amid rising international pressure on Israel regarding its war operations in the Gaza Strip

EU: “Any Threat to Diplomats’ Lives Is Unacceptable”
The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, called the attack “unacceptable.” Speaking from Brussels, she urged Israel to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.

Italy
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the incident via a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying that an Italian diplomat was part of the delegation. He demanded immediate clarification and summoned the Israeli ambassador to Rome for an explanation.

Spain
Spain’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Israeli military’s actions. A Spanish diplomat was also present and is reported to be unharmed. Spain is coordinating with other nations involved to issue a joint response.

Belgium
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot also demanded “convincing explanations,” stating that warning shots targeted about 20 diplomats, including one from Belgium. He emphasized that the diplomats were on an official visit and had coordinated their itinerary with the Israeli military. They were in a clearly marked convoy of around 20 vehicles.

France
France announced it would summon the Israeli ambassador after what it described as “unacceptable gunfire.” A French diplomat was among the delegation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated on X that the diplomats were fired upon by Israeli soldiers and stressed full support for France’s representatives in the field.

Western Official: “This Is a Serious Incident”
A Western diplomatic official whose country was part of the delegation described the shooting as “a serious incident that we will respond to appropriately.” The Israeli military expressed “regret for the inconvenience” and claimed the delegation deviated from the approved route and entered a restricted area. They said soldiers fired warning shots to deter the group.

Palestinian Authority Accuses Israeli Army of Using Live Ammunition
The Palestinian Authority, which organized the visit, accused Israeli soldiers of firing live rounds at the delegation. According to diplomatic sources and the Palestinian news agency WAFA, diplomats from China, Turkey, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and several European countries—including France, the UK, and Spain—were present.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry released a short video showing dozens of people, including photographers, near a military checkpoint in Jenin. Two Israeli soldiers are seen pointing weapons at the group, followed by gunfire. The diplomats are then seen running back to their vehicles.

Violation of International Law
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the shooting as a “blatant and serious violation of international law” by Israeli occupation forces.

No Injuries Reported
According to The Times of Israel, Israeli soldiers fired into the air from inside the Jenin refugee camp. No injuries were reported.

A diplomat who wished to remain anonymous told AFP: “It was the final part of the visit when suddenly we heard gunfire from the refugee camp. It wasn’t just one or two shots—it was like repeated bursts. It was madness. This is not normal.”