The Israeli army fired shots in the direction of an international diplomatic delegation – which included one Belgian diplomat – in the city of Jenin in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, confirmed Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prévot (Les Engagés).
The delegation was in Jenin to visit the refugee camp and assess the humanitarian situation. The Belgian diplomat is not injured.
"I was shocked to learn that the Israeli army opened fire on 20 diplomats today, including a Belgian colleague. Fortunately, he is fine," Prévot said on social media. "These diplomats were on an official visit to Jenin, coordinated with the Israeli army, in a convoy of 20 clearly recognisable vehicles. Belgium is asking Israel for a convincing explanation."
Deviated from approved route?
In a statement, the Israeli army (IDF) acknowledged that diplomats who were visiting Jenin on the West Bank at the invitation of the Palestinian Authority were shot at. "The delegation deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not allowed to go. Israeli soldiers operating in the area fired warning shots to repel them."
Israeli soldiers initially saw the diplomats as a threat and fired warning shots to keep the group of people at bay. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The IDF said it "regrets the inconvenience caused" and announced that it would hold talks with the diplomats "soon." It has already launched an investigation and will inform the countries involved of the results of the investigation.
However, Prévot's cabinet said that the convoy did not deviate from the agreed route, according to their information. "The delegation left their vehicles and walked to the entrance of the camp. There they were shot at by two soldiers."
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prévot. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
The delegation's vehicles were blacked out and therefore clearly recognisable. The Belgian diplomat is already back in Jerusalem, where he works at the consulate general. Prévot has had telephone contact with the diplomat.
The minister will ask the Israeli embassy in Belgium for clarification. This is not the same as a "convocation": a diplomatic term for inviting an ambassador for a conversation and calling them to account.
'Unacceptable'
Meanwhile, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas called the incident "unacceptable" and called on Israel to launch an investigation into the incident, she said in response to a question from a journalist on Wednesday.
"I have heard about the incident in Jenin where the Israeli army fired warning shots – which remain shots – at diplomats who were approaching the refugee camp during a visit organised by the Palestinian Authority," Kallas said.
"We call on Israel to investigate the incident, and to hold those responsible accountable," Kallas said. She also pointed out that Israel is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, which states that diplomats have immunity.
"Any threats against the lives of diplomats are unacceptable," she stressed.
