Israeli army fires 'warning shots' at EU diplomats visiting West Bank

Israel's military troops fired "warning shots" at a group of diplomats from the European Union who visited the West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the group did not follow the route agreed upon when the tour was coordinated with the army.

"The delegation deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not authorized to be," and "soldiers operating in the area fired warning shots," a military statement said.

The Israeli statement said no injuries were reported, adding that the army "regrets the inconvenience caused."

The Palestinian Authority condemned the "live fire," saying the unlawful act constitutes a "blatant and grave breach" of international law and of the fundamental principles of diplomatic relations as enshrined in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine said such acts will not pass without accountability and called upon the international community to take a clear stance against Israeli assaults and protect the Palestinian people and diplomatic personnel operating in Palestine.

The incident sparked condemnations from several European capitals on Wednesday.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani slammed the firing of shots on diplomats and called on Israel to "immediately clarify" its actions.

"I have just spoken to Alessandro Tutino, the Deputy Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem, who is well and who was among the diplomats who were apparently shot at near the Jenin refugee camp," Tajani said on X.

"We call on the government of Israel to immediately clarify what happened. Threats against diplomats are unacceptable," he said.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on Israel to investigate the incident and hold those responsible "accountable."

"Any threats on diplomats' lives are unacceptable," Kallas told journalists in Brussels.

Spain "strongly" condemned the incident, foreign ministry sources told AFP.

"There was a Spaniard in the group of diplomats who is well. We are in contact with other affected countries to jointly co-ordinate a response to what happened, which we strongly condemn," the sources said.

(With input from AFP)