Switzerland calls for respect of diplomatic protections after Israeli gunfire incident in Jenin

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Switzerland on Thursday called for full respect of international diplomatic protections following Israeli gunfire near a group of foreign diplomats at the entrance to the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

In a post on X, the Foreign Ministry recalled that "international law, in particular the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, grants special protection to diplomatic personnel."

"This protection must be fully respected," the ministry said, adding that no Swiss diplomats were among those involved in the incident.

Israeli forces on Wednesday opened fire to intimidate a foreign diplomatic delegation upon its arrival at an entrance to the Jenin refugee camp.

According to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, the delegation included diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, the EU, Portugal, China, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Türkiye, Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Japan, Romania, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Canada, India, Chile, France, and the UK, along with representatives from several other countries.