Jenin: European reactions have condemned the Israeli occupation forces for firing upon a delegation of European diplomats in the Jenin camp, located in the northern West Bank. Italy, France, and Spain have decided to recall their ambassadors to Israel in response to the incident.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the occupation forces opened direct fire on European and Arab diplomats during a visit organized by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry to assess the situation in Jenin camp, which has been under Israeli attack for months. Sources from Al Jazeera reported that two Israeli soldiers approached the delegation, which included 25 Arab and European ambassadors and consuls, as well as representatives from the European Union and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and opened fire upon the diplomats’ arrival, leading to the immediate termination of the visit.
The Israeli army stated that the diplomatic delegation “deviated from its course” and entered a restricted area in the camp. It claimed that soldiers fired warning shots and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, noting that no injuries occurred. This incident follows a broader military operation launched by the Israeli army in January in the Jenin refugee camp, which led to the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, the displacement of 22,000, and the destruction of 600 homes.
In response, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome for official clarifications regarding the events in Jenin. The Italian Foreign Ministry demanded that the Israeli government provide an explanation and emphasized that threatening diplomats was unacceptable. France and Spain also summoned the Israeli ambassadors in their respective countries, with French nationals reportedly among the delegation members in Jenin. The Spanish Foreign Ministry criticized the attack, stating it violated Israel’s obligations as an occupying power.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, condemned the shooting, and similar reactions came from Germany and the Netherlands, the latter considering further action in response. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Pr©vost expressed shock, stressing that the visit was coordinated with the Israeli military, while Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris was also alarmed by the targeting of diplomats, including two Irish nationals. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Kravik echoed these sentiments, condemning the attack and emphasizing the need to protect diplomats.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) labeled the shooting as a clear violation of international norms, and the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned it as an act of aggression and a serious violation of international law.