Israeli troops fire warning shots as diplomats tour West Bank; Japan protests
This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin
By Mohammad Ateeq
Several nations that have backed Israel voiced outrage Wednesday after Israeli troops fired what they called "warning shots" as foreign diplomats visited the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Authority accused troops of "deliberately" shooting at the delegation near the flashpoint city of Jenin. The Israeli military, already under pressure over its tactics in the Gaza war, said it regretted the "inconvenience".
Japan's government confirmed Thursday that its diplomatic staff participated, adding that it "deeply regrets" the incident.
"The Japanese government has protested to the Israeli side and requested an explanation and the prevention of a recurrence," government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said in Tokyo.
AFP footage from Jenin -- a frequent target of Israeli military raids -- showed the delegation and accompanying journalists running for cover as shots were heard.
A European diplomat said the envoys went to the area to see the destruction caused by Israeli military raids since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023.
The Israeli military said the diplomatic convoy strayed from the approved route and entered a restricted zone.
Troops fired "warning shots" to steer the group away, it said, adding that no one was wounded and expressing regret for the "inconvenience caused".
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman called the incident "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," the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters.
"These diplomats, including U.N. personnel, were fired at, warning shots or whatever... which is unacceptable."
Several countries that had representatives in the group voiced outrage and demanded an investigation.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to hold those responsible "accountable".
Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay summoned Israel's ambassadors or said they would raise the issue directly.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the incident "totally unacceptable" and pressed for an "immediate explanation".
Carney added that Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand has summoned Israel's ambassador to Ottawa.
Egypt denounced the shooting as a breach of "all diplomatic norms", while Turkey demanded an immediate investigation.
Turkey's foreign ministry said: "This attack must be investigated without delay and the perpetrators must be held accountable."
Ahmad al-Deek, political adviser for the Palestinian foreign ministry who accompanied the delegation, condemned "this reckless act by the Israeli army".
"It has given the diplomatic delegation an impression of the life the Palestinian people are living," he said.
Palestinian news agency Wafa reported the delegation included diplomats from more than 20 countries including Britain, China, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Turkey and Russia.
The incident came as anger mounted over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians are scrambling for basic supplies after weeks of near-total isolation.
A two-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has been partially eased this week.
Israel stepped up its military offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war.
Israel has faced massive pressure, including from its allies, to halt its intensified offensive and allow aid into Gaza.
European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday ordered a review of the EU cooperation accord with Israel.
Sweden said it would press the EU to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers, while Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador.
Pope Leo XIV described the situation in Gaza as "worrying and painful" and called for "the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid".
Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead.
Gaza's health ministry said at least 3,509 people have been killed since Israel ended a ceasefire and resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,655, mostly civilians.
© 2025 AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
an hour ago
- The Mainichi
Japan science body to become corporate entity amid autonomy concerns
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese parliament enacted Wednesday a bill to turn a government advisory body of scientists into a corporate entity, a move that academics have criticized as potentially infringing on its independence through stronger state oversight. Under the new law, the Science Council of Japan, currently a special organization operating independently from the government, will be given the status of a special corporate entity from October 2026. Members will no longer be appointed by the prime minister from a list of nominations compiled exclusively by the council, with third-party experts, including non-scientists, getting a say in the council's composition. In addition, outside auditors and committee members selected by the prime minister will now oversee the council's operations in a bid to enhance transparency. The changes "would place (the council) under political and administrative control or pressure," and "undermine (its) scientific freedom, and its freedom of choice in selecting which scholars" join it, the council said earlier in a statement. The debate over the council's corporate status stems from 2020 when then Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in an unprecedented move, blocked six scholars who had been critical of his predecessor Shinzo Abe's policies from joining the council. Suga has since refused to give his reason for rejecting the scholars. The 210-member council, established in 1949, has been critical especially of the government's promotion of arms technology, such as the Defense Ministry's policy of pushing research that could be diverted to military technologies. Ahead of the passage of the bill, submitted by the government, there had been concerns over whether the council could ensure its independence, given that the new law no longer includes a clause that says the council performs its duties "independently." The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the major opposition force, proposed an amendment to the bill to include a clause stating the council's independence, but this was voted down at Tuesday's upper house committee. The council has also criticized financial aid in the form of subsidies, saying this not only restricts the entity's freedom in its activities but poses concerns about financial stability. The new law only says the state can subsidize the necessary funds. Currently, the government disburses around 1 billion yen ($6.9 million) annually to the council.
Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Vitalization of Bookstores: Expand Opportunities for People to Encounter Books
Bookstores are cultural centers for local communities that connect people with books. Their existence is also deeply connected to people's education and character building. It is necessary to halt the decline in the number of bookstores and enhance momentum to protect them as a foundation of knowledge. The government has announced a plan to vitalize bookstores. To reduce the high rate of unsold newly released books and magazines returned to publishers, which is said to be one of the causes of rising book distribution costs, the government will hold study sessions together with people related to the industry and aim to improve the operational efficiency of bookstores through the widespread use of IC tags. In addition, the government, across its ministries and agencies, intends to support bookstores through such means as strengthening efforts to lower fees for cashless payments, which are a heavy burden on bookstores, and encouraging people to open new stores. The gross profit margin rate for bookstores remains at around 20%. Due to the delay in digitalization, some bookstores are unable to manage sales and inventory the way they want to. Although the efforts of the bookstores themselves, of course, are necessary, the hope is that the government and the industry will deepen cooperation and do their utmost to work to resolve these issues. The number of bookstores is rapidly decreasing in many parts of the country, and the number of municipalities without a single bookstore has increased to more than a quarter of the total. There are many municipalities without bookstores in rural areas, and in some cases there are no libraries in those locations either. This is a serious problem that could lead to a 'knowledge gap' with urban areas. In some foreign countries, central governments are actively involved in promoting bookstores. France has introduced a 'Culture Pass' system for young people to support the purchase of books and other cultural activities. Germany has established a system to award small bookstores that have special characteristics, among other efforts. It cannot be said that the measures taken by the government in Japan to protect print culture and the reading environment have been sufficient so far. In February this year, The Yomiuri Shimbun and Kodansha Ltd. announced a joint proposal aimed at promoting bookstores. The government's plan is in line with the content of this proposal. It is hoped that all parties involved will share a sense of urgency and work to enhance the vitality of bookstores so they will not disappear. Unlike online bookstores, bookstores in towns offer the chance to encounter an unexpected book. While browsing the shelves of a bookstore in a field in which you have little interest, you may become curious about a book and pick it up, which could later change your life. Bookstores also play a major role as a distribution center for the 'content industry,' which includes manga and anime. Japanese manga and anime are highly regarded overseas, and many overseas fans come to Japan to make 'pilgrimages' to places where stories and scenes are set. The decline in the number of bookstores could lead to the loss of the function of bringing new works to the world. The growing trend of people moving away from reading books is serious. According to a survey by the Cultural Affairs Agency, 60% of respondents said they do not read even one book a month. It is also necessary to devise ways to increase the number of people who read books, such as by providing opportunities for people to become familiar with books with the help of picture book specialists and instructors who guide people in reading aloud. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 11, 2025)
Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Five Nations and EU Urge Trump Not to Impose New Airplane Tariffs
Reuters A picture taken through a telescope shows a silhouette of an aircraft against the sun during a partial solar eclipse in the settlement of Kojori outside Tbilisi, Georgia October 25, 2022. WASHINGTON, June 10 (Reuters) – Five nations and the European Union, as well as airlines and aerospace firms worldwide, urged the Trump administration not to impose new national security tariffs on imported commercial planes and parts, documents released on Tuesday showed. Airlines and planemakers have been lobbying President Donald Trump to restore the tariff-free regime under the 1979 Civil Aircraft Agreement that has yielded an annual trade surplus of $75 billion for the U.S. industry. The documents made public by the U.S. Commerce Department bared concerns over the fallout of possible new tariffs expressed by companies as well as nations such as Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and Switzerland, besides the European Union. 'As reliable trading partners, the European Union and United States should strengthen their trade regarding aircraft and aircraft parts, rather than hinder it by imposing trade restrictions,' the EU wrote. It would consider its options 'to ensure a level playing field,' it added. Trump has already imposed tariffs of 10% on nearly all airplane and parts imports. 'No country or region should attempt to support the development of its domestic aircraft manufacturing industry by suppressing foreign competitors,' the Chinese government wrote. Separately, U.S. planemaker Boeing BA.N cited a recent trade deal unveiled in May with Britain that ensures tariff-free treatment for airplanes and parts. 'The United States should ensure duty-free treatment for commercial aircraft and their parts in any negotiated trade agreement, similar to its efforts with the United Kingdom,' Boeing told the Commerce Department in a filing. Mexico said in 2024 it exported $1.45 billion in aircraft parts, just a tenth of the total, to the United States. The EU said it took U.S. exports of aircraft worth roughly $12 billion, while exporting about $8 billion of aircraft to the U.S. In early May, the Commerce Department launched a 'Section 232' national security investigation into imports of commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts that could form the basis for even higher tariffs on such imports. Last week, Delta Air LinesDAL.N and major trade groups warned of tariffs' impact on ticket prices, aviation safety and supply chains. 'Current U.S. tariffs on aviation are putting domestic production of commercial aircraft at risk,' Airbus Americas CEO Robin Hayes said in a filing. 'It is not realistic or sensible today to create a 100% domestic supply chain in any country.' Boeing said it had been increasing U.S. content in its airplanes over the last decade and its newest airplanes, the 737 MAX 10 and 777X, would have 'more than 88% domestically-sourced content.' The United Auto Workers union, which represents 10,000 aerospace workers, said it supports tariffs and domestic production quotas, adding that U.S. aerospace employment has fallen to 510,000 in 2024 from 850,000 in 1990. 'To safeguard the entire aerospace supply chain across the commercial and defense sectors, comprehensive tariffs and production quotas on several products are needed,' it said. JetBlue Airways JBLU.O opposed new tariffs, however, saying, 'Trade policy should reinforce, not destabilize, the proven systems that keep our aircraft flying safely and affordably.'
