Germany has sharply condemned Israel after its military reportedly opened fire on a diplomatic delegation in the West Bank on Tuesday, calling the incident “unprovoked” and demanding an immediate investigation.
“Today, near Jenin in the West Bank, the Israeli army fired shots in the direction of a registered diplomatic delegation including a German diplomat as well as a driver from the Representative Office in Ramallah,” a spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Office said in a statement. “The Federal Foreign Office strongly condemns this unprovoked fire. We can count ourselves lucky that nothing more serious occurred.”
The diplomatic convoy was on official duty in coordination with both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli army, according to Berlin. No injuries were reported.
“The role of diplomats as independent observers on the ground is indispensable and in no way represents a threat to Israeli security interests,” the spokesperson said.
German Foreign Minister Carsten Wadephul held a phone call with those affected and pledged to raise the matter directly with his Israeli counterpart.
Rising Tensions Amid ‘Iron Wall’ Offensive
The incident comes against the backdrop of Operation Iron Wall, an ongoing Israeli military campaign in the northern West Bank that has drawn international concern over its intensity and impact on civilians.
According to the German Foreign Office, the operation — now in its sixth week — has displaced 40,000 residents from the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas refugee camps, leaving at least 50 dead, including civilians.
Germany has repeatedly warned Israel that continued military operations in Area A of the West Bank, which is under exclusive Palestinian Authority control under the Oslo Accords, threaten to erode the legitimacy of the PA and destabilize the fragile security environment.
“The Israeli Government’s plans to maintain a long-term military presence in Jenin are unacceptable,” the Foreign Office stated in February. “Terrorism must be fought, and in Area A that task falls to the PA.”
Officials in Berlin have also cited the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion of July 19, 2024, which reaffirmed that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory must end.
“Israel’s actions are consolidating the occupation and undermining efforts by the Palestinian Authority to act as the legitimate representative of Palestinian interests,” the earlier statement said.
Diplomatic Fallout Looms
Tuesday’s gunfire incident adds further strain to already tense EU-Israel relations, as multiple European nations — including France and Ireland — have recently criticized Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also urged Israel this week to uphold international law and ensure safe access for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Berlin’s latest rebuke is likely to intensify diplomatic calls for restraint.
“The Israeli Government must immediately investigate the circumstances and respect the inviolability of diplomats,” the German Foreign Office said.
No official Israeli response to the shooting incident has yet been released.