Israel faces new diplomatic storm after IDF soldiers fire warning shots at group of diplomats touring Jenin

While Israel is already in the midst of a torrent of criticism, sanctions and threats over the IDF’s new offensive in Gaza, another storm of outrage erupted Wednesday after soldiers fired warning shots in the direction of a group of diplomats.

The delegation from some two dozen countries visited the town of Jenin in Samaria (West Bank), where the IDF has been conducting intense counterterror operations that included the displacement of thousands of residents of the local refugee camp, which was the main terror hotbed in the region.

In an apology statement, the military said that the entry of the delegation had been coordinated and “an approved route was provided to the delegation members, which they were instructed to follow due to the area being an active combat zone.”

“According to an initial inquiry, the delegation deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not authorized to be. IDF soldiers operating in the area fired warning shots to distance them away. No injuries or damages were reported,” the IDF said.

The occupation forces opened heavy fire from inside the Jenin refugee camp to intimidate the diplomatic delegation that is conducting a field tour around the camp to witness the extent of the suffering endured by the residents of the area.

قوات الاحتلال تطلق النار بشكل كثيف من… pic.twitter.com/qafjqQP0Sg

— State of Palestine - MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) May 21, 2025

In a video of the incident, two Israeli soldiers fire warning shots after the diplomats are seen approaching an IDF checkpoint, some of them filming videos close to the entrance gate. The diplomats then quickly walked away.

According to military sources talking to Army Radio, the soldiers did not know that the group was a delegation of diplomats.

The IDF said that the Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, Brig.-Gen. Yaki Dolf immediately reviewed the incident, and the Head of the Civil Administration, Brig.-Gen. Hisham Ibrahim instructed officers to immediately contact representatives of the relevant countries before holding personal conversations with the diplomats to update them on the findings of the initial inquiry. “The IDF regrets the inconvenience caused,” the army stated.

The incident quickly gathered significant attention online, as well as severe diplomatic repercussions.

An official 𝕏 account of the Palestinian Authority characterized the incident as, “heavy fire from inside the Jenin refugee camp to intimidate the diplomatic delegation that is conducting a field tour around the camp to witness the extent of the suffering endured by the residents of the area.”

The newly elected Vice President of the Palestinian Authority, Hussein al-Sheikh, called on the international community “to curb this brutal eruption of the occupation forces in the Palestinian territories.”

According to media reports, the delegation included diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, the European Union, Portugal, China, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Turkey, Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Japan, Romania, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Canada, India, Chile, France, Great Britain, Germany, and more.

By the time of publication, Portugal, Spain, France and Italy announced they would summon the Israeli ambassadors and consuls in their countries as a response.

Egypt said the incident “violates all diplomatic norms,” Turkey stated that it was a “demonstration of Israel’s systematic disregard for international law and human rights,” and Germany condemned it “strongly.”

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s head diplomat, demanded Israel investigate the incident and “also hold those accountable who are responsible for this.”

“Any threats on diplomats’ lives are unacceptable. Israel is also a signatory to the Vienna Convention – the obligation to guarantee the security of all foreign diplomats,” she added.

Responding to the IDF statement, a Western diplomat told The Times of Israel he rejected the apology for the “inconvenience caused.”

“This is not an ‘inconvenience,’” he said, “It is a serious incident to which we will react appropriately, following consultations with our partners.”