International Desk: Israeli forces have opened fire on foreign diplomats in the occupied West Bank of Palestine. The diplomats, from the European Union, Arab, and Asian countries, were shot by Israeli soldiers while they were assessing the humanitarian situation in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.
Although no one was injured in the incident, it has caused widespread international outrage. Al Jazeera reported this information in a report on Wednesday (May 21) night.
The Palestinian authorities and several countries confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday when a group of diplomats were visiting areas affected by the Israeli army’s four-month military operation in Jenin. Many people have been killed and displaced in the operation.
The Israeli military claimed that the diplomats had strayed from their designated route and entered a “restricted area,” prompting them to fire warning shots. However, they said that the shots were “warning shots” and that no one was injured.
The head of the Israeli military administration in the West Bank said they would speak to representatives of the countries involved about the incident and brief the diplomats on the preliminary investigation.
Al Jazeera journalist Hamdah Salhut said, “This incident shows how dire the real situation is in the West Bank. No one is safe there, not even diplomats.”
“A military operation is being carried out in the northern West Bank, including Jenin and Tulkarem and surrounding areas, which has displaced more than ten thousand Palestinians.”
Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media shows the diplomats talking to reporters when gunfire suddenly rings out and everyone runs for cover in panic.
Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit, “Sanad,” confirmed that two Israeli soldiers were standing near the scene, their weapons pointed at the diplomats.
About 20 diplomats were being briefed on the situation in Jenin at the time, an aid worker told the AP, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Witnesses said the source of the gunfire could not be confirmed, but no one was injured.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called the incident a “heinous crime” and said, “The Israeli occupation forces deliberately opened fire directly on a diplomatic team that had gone there with permission.”
