Israel fires Shots at Diplomats in Jenin (May 21, 2025)

by archivinggenocide.comin Blogon Posted on

A delegation of European diplomats (from Ireland, Spain, and Norway) and UN officials were traveling to Jenin to assess humanitarian conditions following recent Israeli military operations. The convoy included clearly marked vehicles with diplomatic identifiers.

  • Near the Jalamah checkpoint (northern entrance to Jenin), Israeli soldiers fired warning shots into the air and blocked the convoy’s path.
  • Soldiers declared the area a “closed military zone” and ordered the diplomats to turn back, citing “ongoing counterterrorism operations.”
  • No injuries were reported, but the delegation was forced to abort its mission.

The IDF stated that the diplomats did not coordinate their entry with COGAT (Israeli military liaison for Palestinian territories), violating standard protocols. They claimed warning shots were a “standard procedure” to prevent unauthorized access to active combat zones.

In response, Ireland, Spain, and Norway issued a joint condemnation, calling the incident “a dangerous obstruction of diplomatic duties.” The UN expressed “grave concern” over restrictions on humanitarian access. Palestinian officials accused Israel of “intimidating international witnesses” to cover up human rights violations.

This incident represents an unprecedented escalation: While Israel has previously restricted access to conflict zones, firing warning shots near recognized diplomats marks a new level of confrontation.

  • Diplomatic Fallout: The three countries involved had recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024, exacerbating tensions with Israel.
  • Media Blackout? Initial reports were sparse, possibly due to Israel’s tight restrictions on journalist access to Jenin.

Why Jenin

Jenin has been a focal point of armed resistance (e.g., Jenin Brigade) and repeated IDF raids since 2022. Israel alleges the camp harbors Hamas and PIJ militants, while Palestinians and the UN warn of a collapsing humanitarian situation.

  1. Reuters (May 22, 2025): “Israel turns back EU diplomats with warning shots near Jenin.”
  2. Haaretz (May 21, 2025): “IDF restricts access to Jenin amid surge in armed clashes.”
  3. UN OCHA statement (May 22, 2025): “Concern over military restrictions on humanitarian ops.”

Why the Warning Shots Were a Serious Escalation

  1. Diplomatic Immunity Violation:
    • Diplomats were in clearly marked vehicles, yet Israel still used armed intimidation to block them. This violates international norms (Vienna Conventions) on protected personnel.
  2. Pattern of Silencing Witnesses:
    • Israel has systematically denied access to journalists, aid workers, and investigators in the West Bank (e.g., Amnesty/HRW reports barred in 2024).
    • The UN has documented over 200 incidents of access restrictions to Jenin since 2023.
  3. No Evidence of “Coordination Failure”:
    • COGAT regularly ignores or delays requests for entry (e.g., Médecins Sans Frontières reports from April 2025).
    • Even if coordination failed, firing warning shots is disproportionate—standard practice would be verbal orders or roadblocks.
  4. Political Retaliation?
    • The diplomats targeted were from Ireland, Spain, and Norway—all of which recognized Palestine in 2024. Israel had previously sanctioned these states for their stance.

This wasn’t an isolated event. Similar incidents include:

  • May 2024: IDF blocked an Al Jazeera crew at Jalamah checkpoint.
  • March 2025: UN aid convoy delayed for 12 hours near Tulkarm.
  • Policy Shift: Since 2023, Israel has increasingly rejected visas for UN and NGO staff, citing “bias.”