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Agence France-Presse

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”.
Agence France-Presse 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 diplomats 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 injured and expressing regret for the “inconvenience caused”.
UN 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 UN 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, Jordan, Turkey and Russia.
Beijing on Thursday said it “firmly opposes any acts endangering the safety” of diplomats.
“We demand the launch of a full investigation so that similar incidents do not happen again,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
Japan’s government earlier confirmed 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.
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 described the situation in Gaza as “worrying and painful” and called for “the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid”.
Hamas’ 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an Agence France-Presse 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.


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Israel

Outrage at Israeli ‘warning shots’ as foreign diplomats tour West Bank

Members of a diplomatic delegation react after warning shots were fired in the distance. Photo: AFP

Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Members of a diplomatic delegation in the West Bank on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Members of a diplomatic delegation leave in a rush after shots were fired in the distance. Photo: AFP

Israeli military vehicles in Jenin, in the occupied-West Bank on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Israeli strikes kill 82 in Gaza, as desperately needed aid fails to reach Palestinians

Bloodied children’s clothes are seen among the rubble of a damaged building following overnight Israeli strikes near the Nuseirat Refugee camp. Photo: dpa

An aid truck entering from Israel into Gaza, on the road to the Kerem Shalom crossing near the Israeli-Gaza border on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Pope Leo has appealed for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Photo: AFP

22 countries demand Israel allow ‘full resumption’ of Gaza aid

Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Trucks carrying aid make their way into Gaza. Photo: Reuters

UK halts Israel trade talks amid Gaza conflict, imposes sanctions over West Bank

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech in the Downing Street Rose Garden in London on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Stacks of aid are seen on the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Children play around waste in front of the closed UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron said his country should move toward recognising a Palestinian state. Photo: AFP

Israel should not kill babies in Gaza ‘for a hobby’, opposition politician says

A Palestinian woman, grandmother of killed one-and-a-half-year old baby Yaman Al Zaneen, mourns while carrying his body during a funeral in the central Gaza Strip. Photo: EPA-EFE

Israeli Democrat party leader Yair Golan’s remarks on Gaza sparked outrage. Photo: Getty Images

An Israeli tank manoeuvres near Khan Younis, on May 20 as Israel’s military continued to strike targets across the Gaza Strip. Photo: EPA-EFE

News

World

Middle East

Israel says diplomats deviated from approved route and entered a restricted zone, fired warning shots


Israel says diplomats deviated from approved route and entered a restricted zone, fired warning shots.


Outrage at Israeli ‘warning shots’ as foreign diplomats tour West Bank

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Israel says diplomats deviated from approved route and entered a restricted zone, fired warning shots

Israel says diplomats deviated from approved route and entered a restricted zone, fired warning shots