Gaza: Belgium has demanded a “convincing explanation” from Israel after warning shots were fired at a delegation of diplomats in the West Bank, including a Belgian official, a news agency reports.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot posted on X that he was “shocked” at the incident involving a delegation on a visit “coordinated with the Israeli army” and travelling in a “clearly identifiable” convoy.
“Belgium demands a convincing explanation from Israel,” he wrote, adding that the Belgian diplomat was unharmed.
(FR/NL) Choqué d'apprendre que l'armée israélienne a ouvert le feu aujourd'hui en direction d'une vingtaine de diplomates, dont un collègue belge. Il va bien, heureusement. Ces diplomates effectuaient une visite officielle à Jenin, qui avait pourtant été coordonnée avec l'armée…
— Maxime PREVOT (@prevotmaxime) May 21, 2025
On the other hand, Spain “strongly condemns” Israeli army fire on a diplomatic delegation that was visiting the flashpoint city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, foreign ministry sources told to a news agency.
“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.
The Palestinian Authority has accused Israeli forces of firing on diplomats as they visited the flashpoint West Bank city of Jenin, releasing video of two soldiers aiming rifles at a group of people.
It condemned “the heinous crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces, which deliberately targeted by live fire an accredited diplomatic delegation to the State of Palestine during a field visit to Jenin Governorate.”
A diplomat present during the visit confirmed to the news agency he had heard “repeated shots” coming from inside Jenin refugee camp.
An Israeli army spokesperson said: “I am looking into it.”
