Diplomats came under fire by Israel’s army during a visit to the occupied West Bank today.

Gunshots pierced the air near the Palestinian city of Jenin – a region that has been the focus of a large-scale Israeli operation.

Delegations from more than 20 countries, including Ireland, Germany and France, were on their way to the Jenin refugee camp, home to over 20,000 displaced Palestinians, when the incident happened.

Footage shows diplomats speaking with the press when multiple bullets are unleashed close to the group, forcing them to run for cover.

One member of the delegation cautions the group, ‘Be close to the wall, be close to the wall,’ as they walk away from the scene.

Two Israeli soldiers are also seen standing nearby with their rifles pointing towards the diplomats.

The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the incident a ‘deliberate and unlawful act’.

A statement on X said: ‘The occupation forces opened heavy fire from the Jenin refugee camp to intimidate the diplomatic delegationconducting a field tour around the camp to witness the extent of the suffering endured by the residents of the area.’

No one was injured, but the incident has jolted already fraught international relations.

Ireland’s deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris stressed it was ‘completely unacceptable’.

A statement said: ‘I am shocked and appalled at reports that the IDF fired shots in the vicinity of a visit to Jenin today by a group of diplomats, including two Irish diplomats based in Ramallah.

‘Fortunately, no-one was hurt. This is completely unacceptable and I condemn it in the strongest terms.’

Senior European figures have called for clarification on why Israeli soldiers opened fire.

Both Germany and Ireland have condemned the ‘unprovoked’ shooting and confirmed earlier that their diplomats were in the group.

France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, said a French diplomat was among the delegation, adding that he would summon the ambassador of Israel to explain what happened during the ‘unacceptable’ incident.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the visit to the camp was coordinated in advance.

It later said the delegation ‘deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not authorised to be’ and that Israeli soldiers fired ‘warning shots to distance them away.’

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