A foreign diplomatic delegation visited the Zhanning refugee camp and conducted an inspection on May 21, 2025 in Zhanning on the West Bank. Credit – Strap/anadolu – getty Image
fForeign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot summoned the Israeli ambassador after encountering a “warning shot” from Israeli soldiers while visiting the Israeli-occupied West Bank. No injuries or damage have been reported.
“This is unacceptable,” Barot said in an article on X, adding that the Israeli ambassador “will be called” to provide an explanation.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had directed the convening of the Israeli ambassador to Rome to “get official clarification about the shooting.”
The diplomats were part of a regional and European delegation visiting the town of Zhanning on Wednesday, May 21. In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the “warning shot” was fired as diplomats “deviated from the approved route” during their visit, adding that “regretfully the inconvenience was caused.”
“Any threat to the lives of diplomats is unacceptable,” said Kaja Kallas, senior representative of the EU's diplomatic and security policy, who is responsible for the incident, should be held accountable at a press conference on Wednesday.
Tanest (Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris of Ireland said he was “shocked and shocked” by the incident, explaining that two Irish diplomats were with the group. “It's totally unacceptable, and I condemn it with the strongest angle,” Harris said on social media.
Meanwhile, the German Foreign Ministry “strongly” condemned the warning footage, saying the incident “has no power”, while Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said his country “requests to convince Israel’s explanation.”
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also rebuked the incident, saying: “This is clearly a violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and a crime that violates all diplomatic norms.” The ministry said the Israeli forces were saying “non-narrative.”
An era of Israeli journalists has shared a video that appears to show the event, where the camera can be heard and soldiers are seen in the distance.
Read more: Former Israeli Prime Minister says state operations in Gaza are “close to war crimes” as UN warns 14,000 babies could die
Military operations in the West Bank have increased significantly since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli tanks entered Zhanning for the first time since 2002. Various Palestinian armed factions have also emerged in the town and have frequent clashes with Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
Contact Us Please visit letters@time.com.
