Spain summons Israel’s top envoy as Germany, Turkey, Egypt condemn IDF warning shots

Spain becomes the latest European country to summon Israel’s top diplomatic envoy over the firing of warning shots by Israeli troops near a diplomatic delegation in the West Bank today, while Turkey, Egypt and Germany issue condemnations.

The diplomatic delegation included Cairo’s ambassador to Ramallah, as well as diplomats from many countries including Spain, Turkey and Germany.

“Faced with the intolerable shooting by the Israeli army during the visit of Spanish, EU and other countries’ diplomats, we are summoning the head of Israel’s embassy in Madrid,” Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares writes on X.

Foreign ministry sources tell AFP that the Israeli charge d’affaires will be summoned. Israel recalled its ambassador to Spain after Madrid recognized a Palestinian state a year ago.

The Egyptian foreign ministry condemns the incident “in the strongest terms” and says it “violates all diplomatic norms,” demanding that Jerusalem “provide the necessary explanations” over the circumstances.

Berlin also “strongly” condemns the incident, with a foreign ministry spokeswoman urging Israel to “promptly investigate the circumstances” and adding that Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will raise the issue of the “unprovoked shooting” with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar.

Turkey’s foreign ministry condemns the IDF gunshots “in the strongest terms,” adding that Ankara is calling for an immediate investigation and accountability.

“This attack, which endangered the lives of diplomats, is yet another demonstration of Israel’s systematic disregard for international law and human rights,” the ministry says in a statement. “The targeting of diplomats constitutes a grave threat not only to individual safety but also to the mutual respect and trust that form the foundation of inter-state relations.”