Reactions from Ankara and the world to the 'warning fire' opened by the Israeli army: Diplomats targeted
The Israeli army opened fire on a delegation including diplomats in the West Bank city of Jenin. A Turkish official was also in the delegation. There have been harsh reactions to Israel following the incident.
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Israel stated that this was a "warning fire" and that it was carried out because the delegation "deviated from the approved route," adding that no one was injured.
Palestinian officials, however, argued that the delegation, which was tasked with examining humanitarian conditions, was "deliberately targeted with live ammunition."
The incident drew reactions from numerous countries.
In a written statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that an official from the Consulate General in Jerusalem was also in the delegation.
The statement included the expression, "We condemn in the strongest terms the firing by Israeli soldiers on the delegation during their visit to the city of Jenin."
The Ministry added that this attack endangered the lives of the diplomats and that Israel disregarded international law:
"Targeting diplomats is a serious threat not only to individual safety but also to the environment of respect and trust that forms the basis of relations between states."
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas called on Israel to hold those responsible for this incident accountable.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that their own diplomats were also in this delegation and summoned the Israeli Ambassador to the ministry.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the incident and said, "This is unacceptable." Barrot stated that he would summon the Israeli Ambassador to the ministry.
The foreign ministries of Germany and Ireland also condemned the incident.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated, "Threatening diplomats is unacceptable," while the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this incident "violates all diplomatic norms."
On the other hand, the United Nations announced that despite aid trucks entering Gaza following Israel's 11-week blockade, no aid distribution has taken place.
International aid organizations have been warning for some time that the population in Gaza is on the brink of starvation.
Israeli officials said on Tuesday that 93 trucks loaded with flour, baby formula, medical supplies, and medicine had entered Gaza.
However, the United Nations stated that although the trucks had reached the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, no aid distribution had been carried out so far.
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that a team had "waited for several hours" for Israel to allow the trucks to pass into the area, but said, "unfortunately, they could not bring the aid supplies to our warehouses."
Israel had announced on Sunday that it would allow the entry of "minimal food aid" into Gaza, where international aid organizations have warned of a hunger crisis.