Media reviews mentioned troopers fired warning photographs close to the diplomats, who had been on an official go to to view humanitarian circumstances across the camp the place a significant Israeli army operation has been ongoing since January.
The mission was hosted by the Palestinian Authority and authorized by Israel, nevertheless it strayed from the authorized route, media reviews mentioned, citing an announcement by the Israel Protection Forces (IDF).
Diplomats from greater than 20 international locations had been within the group, together with workers from the UN company that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA. No accidents had been reported.
Diplomats have to be revered
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric was requested concerning the incident throughout his common media briefing from New York.
He mentioned Secretary-General António Guterres was alarmed by reviews that “the IDF fired what they referred to as warning photographs” at diplomatic and UN personnel.
“It’s clear that diplomats who’re doing their work ought to by no means be shot at, attacked in any method, form or kind, and their security, their inviolability, have to be revered always,” he mentioned.
“Any use of pressure in opposition to them is unacceptable, and we urge the Israeli authorities to conduct an intensive investigation, to share these findings with us, and to take any measures that might stop another such incident to happen.”
‘Lax use of extreme pressure’
UNRWA Director of Affairs within the West Financial institution, Roland Friedrich, spoke out in opposition to the Israeli army’s actions.
“This incident is a stark reminder of the lax use of extreme pressure routinely deployed by Israeli Safety Forces within the West Financial institution, typically with deadly penalties,” he mentioned in a tweet.
He famous that whereas the West Financial institution is “not a struggle zone” 137 Palestinians have been killed there since January in occupation-related violence.
“The IDF has mentioned they’re investigating the incident. Nevertheless, claims similar to ‘mistakenly figuring out [the delegation] as a risk’ and firing ‘warning photographs’ don’t absolutely seize the severity of at the moment’s occasions,” he mentioned.
“This raises severe considerations over the way in which guidelines of engagement are utilized to unarmed civilians,” he added.
In the meantime, a number of international locations have voiced their condemnation. Germany’s international ministry issued an announcement calling on Israel to analyze the matter.
“The Federal International Workplace strongly condemns this unprovoked fireplace. We are able to depend ourselves fortunate that nothing extra severe occurred,” it mentioned.
Jenin camp scenario
The UN continues to spotlight the scenario on the Jenin camp and elsewhere within the West Financial institution.
Mr. Friedrich mentioned entry to the camp “has been near-impossible” since Israel launched Operation ‘Iron Wall’ on 21 January. All residents have been forcibly displaced and UNRWA providers there have been absolutely suspended.
He referred to as for protected humanitarian entry to the camp to be restored, whereas these displaced have to be allowed to return instantly.
