A diplomatic riff between the State of Israel and more than a dozen nations widened when Israeli forces fired live gun shots at a delegation of foreign diplomats on an official visit to the Occupied West Bank. The Israeli army said its soldiers fired “warning shots” after the foreign diplomats deviated from a previously agreed-on route, reported Al Jazeera.
The delegation comprised of diplomats from European, Arab and Asian countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Canada. They were in the Palestinian city of Jenin on a mission to observe and assess the humanitarian situation and document ongoing violations perpetrated by the occupying forces against the Palestinian people, according to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This deliberate and unlawful act constitutes a blatant and grave breach of international law and of the fundamental principles of diplomatic relations,” said a PA foreign ministry statement.
The targeting of accredited diplomats, protected under international law, highlights the Israeli occupation’s disregard for interstate relations, international norms and its ongoing culture of impunity.
There were swift responses of condemnation from countries who had representatives in the group, calling for an investigation.
“We call on Israel to investigate this incident and also hold those accountable who are responsible for any threats to diplomats’ lives,” said European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the incident “totally unacceptable” and pressed for an “immediate explanation.”
Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay summoned Israel’s ambassadors or said they would raise the issue directly, reported CBS News.
Britain’s minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, also called the situation “unacceptable” and said civilians and diplomats must be protected.
“I have spoken to our diplomats who were affected,” said Mr. Falconer in a May 21 post on X.
“Civilians must always be protected, and diplomats allowed to do their jobs. There must be a full investigation and those responsible should be held accountable.”
The incident happened at a time Israel is coming under more pressure over its expanded military offensive in Gaza, where a dire humanitarian crisis is in full effect.
The day before on May 20, the UK suspended new free trade talks with Israel over expansion of its ground war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis caused by a three month blockade of aid getting into Gaza.
“The world is judging,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the House of Commons, while giving reasons for the decision. “History will judge them. Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible and it must stop,” said Mr. Lammy.
The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, described the situation in Gaza as “horrific” and “utterly intolerable,” reported The Guardian. It comes after the UK, France, and Canada on May 19 issued their strongest condemnation yet of the way Israel is conducting its war on Gaza and repeated calls for a ceasefire.
On May 20, the 27-nation European Union voted to review its trade ties with Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza.
“It is clear from today’s discussions that there is a strong majority in favor of a review of article 2 of our Association Agreement with Israel,” Kaja Kallas told reporters in Brussels. “We will launch this review and in the meantime, it is up to Israel to release more humanitarian aid,” she said, reported MSN.com.
The decision comes almost 15 months after Irish and Spanish leaders called on the European Commission’s chief, Ursula von der Leyen, to make such a move.
Meanwhile, despite the bloodshed and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel continues to rebuff the outside pressure.