Diplomatic delegation shot in West Bank
Israeli forces have shot at a diplomatic delegation from the European Union, Arab and Asian countries at the entrance to the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. The incident has sparked a storm of condemnation against Israel.
The diplomats were on an official mission to assess the humanitarian situation in Jenin on Wednesday (May 21), where a massive Israeli military offensive has resulted in deaths and displacement.
The ongoing Israeli offensive has led to a severe food crisis in Gaza. Israeli forces claimed that about 100 trucks carrying aid had entered the valley. However, the United Nations said that the aid could not be delivered due to security concerns.
Amid international pressure, the Israeli forces’ hellish violence in Gaza continues. The number of Palestinian casualties is rising. The entire valley was shaken by airstrikes throughout the day on Wednesday (May 21). Another 82 Palestinians were killed that day.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces opened fire on a foreign diplomatic delegation at the entrance to the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. The delegation of 35 ambassadors, consuls and diplomats was shot at as they approached the besieged camp.
Although no one was injured in the incident, the incident has sparked a storm of condemnation. EU foreign policy chief Kaza Kallas has described the Israeli shooting as “unacceptable”. He called for an investigation into the incident and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The government of Giorgia Meloni summoned the Israeli ambassador to Italy to ask for details about the shooting. France, Canada, Jordan and Turkey have also strongly criticized the incident. Although Israel says its troops fired blank shots to evacuate the diplomats.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the Gaza Strip will be fully under Israeli military control. He said in a press briefing on Wednesday that all areas of Gaza will remain under Israeli control until the end of the ongoing military operation. At the time, Netanyahu mentioned some conditions for ending the ongoing war. These include the disarmament of Hamas, the expulsion of all the organization’s leaders from the valley and the implementation of Trump’s plan for Gaza.
