Governments demand answers after Israeli troops fire warning shots near EU delegation
Members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union walk near the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, on May 21, 2025 [Mohammad Mansour/AFP]
Listen to article
More than a dozen countries have condemned Israel after its forces fired in the direction of a diplomatic convoy visiting the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
The convoy, attacked on May 21, included representatives from the European Union, United Kingdom, China, Russia and several other countries.
According to the Israeli army, its troops fired 'warning shots' when the convoy allegedly strayed from an agreed route. No injuries were reported. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the shots were meant 'to distance them away'.
The diplomatic delegation, comprising around 20 visibly marked vehicles, was on a visit coordinated with the Israeli military.
Canada – Prime Minister Mark Carney
'The Israeli ambassador has been summoned to Global Affairs to see the minister and explain. We expect a full investigation and we expect an immediate explanation of what happened. It's totally unacceptable, it's some of many things that are totally unacceptable that's going on in the region.'
United Kingdom – Parliamentary Under-Secretary Hamish Falconer
'Today's events in Jenin are unacceptable. I have spoken to our diplomats who were affected. Civilians must always be protected, and diplomats allowed to do their jobs. There must be a full investigation, and those responsible should be held accountable.'
Ireland – Prime Minister Micheal Martin
'I am deeply shocked and horrified that the [Israeli forces] today opened fire on a group of diplomats visiting the town of Jenin. Thankfully, nobody was killed or injured.
I unreservedly condemn this aggressive, intimidatory and violent act. This is not and must never be a normal way to behave.'
Italy – Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani
'We ask the government of Israel to immediately clarify what happened. The threats against diplomats are unacceptable.'
France – Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot
'A visit to Jenin, in which one of our diplomats was participating, was fired upon by Israeli soldiers. This is unacceptable. The Israeli ambassador will be summoned to explain. Full support to our agents on site and their remarkable work in trying conditions.'
Germany – Federal Foreign Office
'The Federal Foreign Office strongly condemns this unprovoked fire. We can count ourselves lucky that nothing more serious occurred.
The group was travelling in the West Bank in the course of its diplomatic work and in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli army. The role of diplomats as independent observers on the ground is indispensable and in no way represents a threat to Israeli security interests.
The Israeli government must immediately investigate the circumstances and respect the inviolability of diplomats.'
Qatar – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
'The state of Qatar strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces for opening fire on an international diplomatic delegation during its visit to the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, and considered [it] a violation of international laws, conventions, and diplomatic norms.'
Turkiye – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
'We condemn in the strongest terms the opening of fire by Israeli soldiers on a group of diplomats, including an official from the Turkish Consulate General in Jerusalem, during their visit to the city of Jenin.
This attack, which endangered the lives of diplomats, is yet another demonstration of Israel's systematic disregard for international law and human rights. The targeting of diplomats constitutes a grave threat not only to individual safety but also to the mutual respect and trust that form the foundation of inter-state relations.'
Egypt – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
'The Arab Republic of Egypt emphasises its absolute rejection of this incident, which violates all diplomatic norms, and calls upon the Israeli side to provide the necessary clarifications regarding the circumstances of this incident.'
Other condemnations poured from Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Jordan, Uruguay, Mexico, Finland , Denmark, and Belgium.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Israel set to deport Greta Thunberg, other activists, ministry says
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian activists have been taken to Tel Aviv airport ahead of their deportation, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, after the Israeli navy prevented them from sailing to Gaza. Israeli forces boarded the charity vessel as it neared Gaza early on Monday, trying to break through a years-old naval blockade of the coastal enclave, and seized the 12-strong crew, including Swedish campaigner Thunberg. The British-flagged yacht was taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod and the foreign ministry said the activists were transferred overnight to Ben Gurion airport. 'Some of the 'Selfie Yacht' passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours,' the ministry said in a statement. 'Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation.' Consular representatives from the passengers' home countries met them at the airport, it added. The activists had been carrying a small cargo of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula, and said they wanted to raise international awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been devastated by months of war. Israel dismissed the voyage as a pro-Hamas publicity stunt. 'The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels,' the Foreign Ministry said. Thunberg accused Israel of kidnapping her in international waters. 'I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible,' she said in a video that was recorded ahead of the Israeli navy action. Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed Thunberg's claim of being kidnapped. 'I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg,' he said. 'She's a young, angry person … I think she has to go to an anger management class.' Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, saying it aims to stop weapons from reaching Hamas. The blockade has remained in place through conflicts including the war, which began when Hamas-led rampaged through southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, by Israeli tallies. Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has since killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Hamas-run Gaza, and destroyed most of the homes of its 2.3 million residents.
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Israeli navy strikes Yemen's port of Hodeidah, army says
DUBAI: The Israeli navy carried out attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah, the army said on Tuesday, in an ongoing campaign that usually involves airstrikes. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said Israel targeted the docks of Al Hodeidah port with two strikes. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli army said in its statement that the port is used by the Houthis to transfer weapons. The strikes come after the Israeli military on Monday urged the evacuation of the Houthi-controlled ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah and Salif. Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have fired at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade, in what it says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians. Israeli air strikes target Sanaa airport in Yemen Most of the dozens of missiles and drones fired towards Israel have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes. Israel has severely weakened other allies of Iran in the region - Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Tehran-backed Houthis and pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq are still standing.
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM/ASHDOD: Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a charity vessel carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, which had tried to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip on Monday. The British-flagged yacht, Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had aimed to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza later on Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. 'If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel,' Thunberg, 22, said in a video released by the FCC, filmed before the vessel was captured. 'I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible.' The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that the vessel was under Israeli control. Israel has called Thunberg an 'antisemite' and dismissed the aid ship as a stunt. 'The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries,' the ministry wrote on X. All passengers were safe and unharmed, it later added: 'They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.' Rima Hassan, a French member of the European parliament who was also on board, posted on X that the crew had been 'arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2 a.m.' A photograph showed the crew seated on the boat, all wearing life jackets, with their hands in the air. Israel's foreign ministry later distributed a photo showing Thunberg in a green hat and orange life vest, smiling while a soldier held out a sandwich. CREW ARRESTED The yacht is carrying a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. The Foreign Ministry said it would be taken to Gaza. 'The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels,' it wrote. The Swedish foreign ministry said it was in contact with Israeli authorities. 'Should the need for consular support arise, the Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assess how we can best help the Swedish citizen/Greta Thunberg resolve her situation,' a Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a written statement to Reuters. French President Emmanuel Macron's office said the president has asked Israeli authorities to release the French nationals on board as soon as possible. The French and Spanish foreign ministries said they had requested consular protection for their citizens aboard. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Sunday to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas. Katz said he had instructed that upon the boat's arrival at Ashdod port, the activists will be shown videos of atrocities committed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. Hamas condemned the seizure of the boat as 'state terrorism' and said it salutes its activists. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, saying it aims to stop weapons from reaching the militant group. The blockade has remained in place through conflicts including the war which began when Hamas-led militants rampaged through southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, by Israeli tallies. Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has since killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Hamas-run Gaza, and destroyed most of the homes of its 2.3 million residents. At the start of March this year, Israel also sealed off Gaza by land, letting no supplies in for three months, arguing that Hamas was diverting aid. Over the past two weeks it has let in some food to be distributed by an Israeli-backed group. Scores of hungry Palestinians have been killed trying to reach it. The United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has supported the FFC operation and on Sunday, urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade.
