On May 21, 2025, Israeli soldiers fired “warning shots” near a group of 25 diplomats visiting Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Their delegation consisted of representatives from 31 nations such as Britain, France, Italy, Ireland Canada and China in an attempt to assess humanitarian conditions in Jenin refugee camp.
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) representatives told The Guardian that two diplomats deviated from an approved route and entered an unauthorized area, prompting soldiers to fire warning shots to redirect them away from that spot. IDF expressed its regret over this incident and announced an internal probe.
Video footage from the scene showed diplomats seeking shelter as gunfire broke out nearby, prompting an international diplomatic outrage. France and Italy summoned Israeli ambassadors for explanations, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot labeled this act “unacceptable”. Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris described this event as being completely unacceptable while disclosing that two Irish diplomats were among those targeted.
The Palestinian Authority strongly denounced Israel for what they described as an act of aggression against peaceful observers, condemning this shooting as a deliberate attack against an accredited diplomatic mission and calling it a grave violation of international law. Their Foreign Ministry called upon international bodies to hold Israel responsible for this aggression against peacekeeping observers.
This incident comes amid escalated tensions in the region. Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza have resulted in substantial civilian casualties and displacement – over 53,000 Palestinians have been reported dead since their offensive began – while humanitarian organizations report that aid access remains severely limited, further exacerbating this humanitarian crisis.
International leaders have voiced rising concern over the safety of diplomatic missions and humanitarian workers operating in conflict zones. European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas stressed the need for accountability while calling for an extensive probe of Jenin incident.
As events develop, the international community closely follows developments, encouraging all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize civilians and diplomatic staff for safety.