Published 21/05/2025 11:14 | Edited 21/05/2025 11:19
The Israeli army fired warning shots at an international delegation of diplomats on Wednesday (21) in the city of Jenin, in the busy Whell. The action, classified by Palestinian diplomacy as “reckless act” and “heinous crime”, provoked immediate reaction from European governments and intensified the pressure for explanations by Tel Aviv.
The attack occurred during an official visit coordinated by the Foreign Ministry of Palestine, with the objective of presenting to foreign representatives the humanitarian situation in the Jenin Refugee Field.
According to witnesses and videos released by international agencies, diplomats and journalists who accompanied them ran to protect themselves while Israeli soldiers fired on top from one of the accesses to the countryside. No person was injured.
Agencies Reports AFP, France 24 e Times of Israel They confirm that the delegation was composed of European Union diplomats, France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Spanish sources of the Spanish government and the Italian chancelaria also officially recognized the presence of their representatives on site.
The Turkish Agency Anadolu and the Official Palestinian Agency He died They claim that the delegation also included diplomats from countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Chile.
The report of Red Consulted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, but until the closing of this text the presence of Brazilian representatives in the entourage had not yet been confirmed.
European governments require explanations and accountability
Diplomatic reactions began on Wednesday. European Union Diplomacy Chief Kaja Kallas charged a strict investigation: “Any threat to the lives of diplomats is unacceptable,” he said at a news conference in Brussels.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Antonio Tajani, stated on social network: “We ask the Israeli government to immediately clarify what happened. Threats against diplomats are unacceptable.” Tajani said he talked to the Italian deputy consul in Jerusalem, Alessandro Tutino, who was in the entourage and is doing well.
Sources from Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that a Spanish diplomat was in the group. In a statement to the AFP agency, they stated: “We are in contact with other countries affected to jointly coordinate a response to the event, which we vehemently condemn.”
Belgium also requested clarification from the Israeli government. The demonstrations add to the complaints of Palestinian diplomacy, which considered the action of the FDI as part of a climb against civil and diplomatic targets.
Israel confirms the shots
After the international repercussion, Israel’s defense forces (FDI) issued a note confirming that the soldiers fired warning shots and justified the action by stating that “the group entered an area where it was not allowed to remain.”
According to the army, the visit was previously coordinated and a specific route had been approved due to the fact that Jenin was considered an active combat zone.
The commander of the Military Division in West Bank, Yaki Dolf Brigade General, determined the opening of an investigation. Already the Brigade General Hisham Ibrahim, Head of Civil Administration of Israel, said that he is in contact with the countries involved and will hold direct conversations with the diplomats to present the results of the investigation. In a final note, the FDI stated: “We regret the inconvenience caused.”
Jenin field has been under Israeli military siege since January
Jenin’s refugee camp is one of the main focuses of the current Israeli offensive in the West Bank. Since January 2025, Israel’s defense forces have imposed a permanent siege of the region, with the installation of metal gates and increased military operations on the grounds of combating armed groups.
According to the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (Unrwa), about 16,000 people were displaced from Jenin by the end of March due to the attacks and destruction promoted by the Israeli army.
Wednesday’s diplomatic visit was organized precisely to present to foreign governments the humanitarian impacts of this prolonged offensive.
Source: vermelho.org.br
