IDF soldiers fired warning shots towards a delegation of some 25 people in Jenin, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, citing Palestinian reports.
According to the reports, the delegation, which was made up of diplomats from Arab and European countries, was taking a tour of the West Bank city.
The IDF spokesperson says that the entry was coordinated, and the delegation was given an approved route due to their presence in an active combat area.
דיווחים: כוחות צה”ל ירו באוויר בג’נין בזמן סיור של עשרות דיפלומטים זרים בעיר@Doron_Kadosh pic.twitter.com/kBKJqSfYGs
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Diplomatic delegation deviated from route
During the entry, and despite prior coordination of the route, the delegation deviated from the route and reached an area where they were not allowed to stay.
IDF forces fired into the air after soldiers realized that the delegation had deviated from their path. The military claimed that this was to push them away from the area, and that there was no damage or casualties.
In a statement, the IDF noted that it “regrets the inconvenience caused.”
Army Radio reported that the IDF would apologize to the members of the delegation, including diplomats from Spain and Canada.
In Brussels, EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas said that the incident was unacceptable.
“Any threats on diplomats’ lives are unacceptable,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels, as reported by AFP.
Spanish foreign ministry sources “strongly” condemned the shooting.
“There was a Spaniard in the group of diplomats who is well. We are in contact with other affected countries to jointly coordinate a response to what happened, which we strongly condemn,” the sources said, as reported by AFP.
At the end of the event, the IDF opened an investigation into the event. The commander of the Civil Administration, Brigadier General Hisham Ibrahim, updated representatives of the countries on the military’s findings.
This is a developing story.
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