Foreign delegation comes under Israeli fire in occupied West Bank

A group of foreign delegations visiting the occupied West Bank faced Israeli military fire, leading to international condemnation. Diplomats from 20 countries, accompanied by U.N. staff, were on an official visit to inspect humanitarian conditions near the Jenin refugee camp when Israeli soldiers fired rounds into the air. The United Nations approved the tour, which was hosted by the Palestinian Authority. The PA accused the Israel Defense Forces of deliberately targeting the delegation in what they called an unlawful act violating international law and diplomatic norms under the Vienna Convention.

The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry criticized the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the establishment of settlements as illegal under international law. The incident in Jenin, which is the northernmost refugee camp in the West Bank, was captured in videos posted by the director of the U.N. relief agency for Palestinian refugees. The IDF claimed the delegation deviated from the authorized route, prompting soldiers to fire warning shots to move them away. This led to concerns from the U.N. official about the use of excessive force against unarmed civilians.

Following the incident, Canada, Italy, and Spain summoned Israeli ambassadors for clarification, with Canada confirming that some of its employees were part of the delegation. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the shooting “totally unacceptable.” The event occurred as international pressure mounted on Israel to end its conflict in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation was deteriorating. Britain, Canada, and France warned of “concrete actions” if Israel did not halt military operations in Gaza and ease restrictions on humanitarian aid.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, with a surprise attack by the militant group that resulted in casualties and abductions. Israel responded with a heavy offensive causing significant devastation and loss of life in Gaza.