ANKARA: Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned “in the strongest terms” the firing of gunshots on diplomats, including from Turkey, during a visit in the West Bank town of Jenin, adding Ankara was calling for an immediate investigation and accountability.
“This attack, which endangered the lives of diplomats, is yet another demonstration of Israel’s systematic disregard for international law and human rights,” the ministry said in a statement, adding a diplomat from its consulate in Jerusalem was part of the group.
“The targeting of diplomats constitutes a grave threat not only to individual safety but also to the mutual respect and trust that form the foundation of inter-state relations.”
A little while ago, Israeli troops fired warning shots during a visit by foreign diplomats to the occupied West Bank, the military said, drawing condemnation as pressure mounted on Israel to allow aid into war-battered Gaza.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to hold to account those responsible for the shooting near Jenin, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups and a frequent target of Israeli raids.
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The Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israel of having “deliberately targeted by live fire an accredited diplomatic delegation”. A European diplomat said the group had gone to the area “to see the destruction” caused by months of Israeli operations.
The Israeli military said “the delegation deviated from the approved route”, prompting troops to fire “warning shoots” to keep them away from “an area where they were not authorised to be”.