Canadian, British, French, and other European ministers summoned Israeli ambassadors in their respective capitals to explain what they described as an “unacceptable” incident after Israeli forces fired warning shots near a group of diplomats visiting Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday, as Germany condemned what it called “unprovoked firing” and Canada, Turkey, and the EU demanded an investigation, according to The Guardian.
The delegation, comprising diplomats and ambassadors from 31 countries, including Canada, the UK, Italy, China, Egypt, and Russia, was on an official mission organised by the Palestinian Authority to assess the humanitarian situation.
While the Israeli military acknowledged that the visit had been pre-approved, it claimed that the delegation had deviated from the authorised route, leading soldiers to discharge warning shots in an attempt to steer the group away.
However, ministers from Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and several other European countries summoned Israeli ambassadors to explain what they described as an unacceptable incident, which they fear may further strain already fraying diplomatic ties.
The international backlash intensified as Germany, traditionally a strong ally of Israel, condemned the shooting as unprovoked, while Canada, Turkey, and the European Union demanded a formal investigation into the episode. Video footage circulating online showed diplomats speaking to the media moments before gunfire erupted, causing them to scramble for safety.
The United Nations also responded by urging Israel to carry out a thorough investigation, reiterating the principle that diplomats must not be subject to any form of attack or intimidation, especially when engaged in legitimate international work. Egypt added its voice to the protest, describing the firing as a breach of diplomatic norms, while the Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting the group with live ammunition.
In response, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) expressed regret for what it called the inconvenience caused and promised that senior officials would brief affected diplomats after completing an internal review. The shooting in Jenin, which has been the site of repeated Israeli military incursions, including a major assault in January that displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians, occurred amid worsening conditions in both the West Bank and Gaza.
On the same day, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling in Gaza reportedly killed at least 82 people, including women and a newborn, according to the Gaza health ministry. In the southern city of Khan Younis, which has been subject to evacuation orders ahead of a planned offensive, Palestinian officials reported 24 deaths, including 14 members of a single family.
As international pressure mounted on Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces aimed to take full control of Gaza by the end of their intensified campaign.
Despite Israel allowing the entry of about 100 aid trucks since Monday, delays in distributing the supplies have left residents without critical relief, with bakery operators reporting that promised flour had not arrived, exacerbating hunger in a region where the majority of the 2.3 million population depend on aid to survive.