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Japan Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
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
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Israeli ‘warning' fire at diplomats sparks outcry amid Gaza pressure
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 camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. Mohammad Ateeq/ AFPTV /AFP JENIN, Palestinian Territories — Israeli troops fired warning shots during a visit by foreign diplomats to the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the military said, drawing condemnation as pressure mounted on Israel to allow aid into war-battered Gaza. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to hold to account those responsible for the shooting near Jenin, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups and a frequent target of Israeli raids. The Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israel of having "deliberately targeted by live fire an accredited diplomatic delegation." A European diplomat said the group had gone to the area "to see the destruction" caused by months of Israeli operations. The Israeli military said "the delegation deviated from the approved route," prompting troops to fire "warning shots" to keep them away from "an area where they were not authorized to be." In said it "regrets the inconvenience caused" by the shooting, which resulted in no injuries. The incident came as international pressure intensified over the war in Gaza, where Palestinians were desperate for supplies after a two-month aid blockade was eased. Rescue teams in the Palestinian territory said overnight Israeli strikes killed at least 19 people, including a week-old baby. 'Unbearable' Israel said 93 trucks had entered Gaza on Tuesday but faced accusations the amount fell far short of what was required. The United Nations said the aid had been held up. The world body on Monday said it had been cleared to send in aid for the first time since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2 in a move leading to critical shortages of food and medicine. Umm Talal al-Masri, 53, a displaced Palestinian living in an area of Gaza City, described the situation as "unbearable." "No one is distributing anything to us. Everyone is waiting for aid, but we haven't received anything," she told AFP. "We're grinding lentils and pasta to make some loaves of bread, and we barely manage to prepare one meal a day." The Israeli army stepped up its 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 traditional allies, to halt its intensified offensive and allow aid into Gaza. Kallas said on Tuesday that "a strong majority" of foreign ministers from the 27-nation European Union backed the move to review its trade cooperation with Israel. "The countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable... and what we want is to unblock the humanitarian aid," she said. 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." Israel's foreign ministry has said the EU action "reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing." Germany on Wednesday defended a key EU-Israel cooperation deal as "an important forum that we must use in order to discuss critical questions" over the situation in Gaza. 'Reckless act' After the warning shots were fired at diplomats, Belgium demanded a "convincing explanation" from Israel, while Spain said it was "in contact with other affected countries to jointly coordinate a response to what happened, which we strongly condemn." Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summoned the Israeli ambassador to Rome and said that "threats against diplomats are unacceptable." Ahmad al-Deek, political adviser for the Palestinian foreign ministry, said he had been leading the delegation. "We condemn this reckless act by the Israeli army, especially at a time when it had given the diplomatic delegation an impression of the life the Palestinian people are living," he said. A European diplomat present during the visit said he heard "repeated shots" coming from inside Jenin refugee camp, which has been largely emptied of its inhabitants since the Israeli operation began in January. In Gaza, Israel resumed its operations across the territory on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire. Hamas's October 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 Tuesday at least 3,509 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,655. — AFP
