Ireland's Tánaiste Simon Harris. RollingNews.ie

Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has condemned reports that Israeli forces fired shots in the vicinity of European, including Irish, diplomats in Jenin today, Wednesday, May 21.

"I am shocked and appalled at reports that the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] fired shots in the vicinity of a visit to Jenin today by a group of diplomats, including two Irish diplomats based in Ramallah," the Tánaiste said today.

"Fortunately, no-one was hurt.

"This is completely unacceptable and I condemn it in the strongest terms."

The delegation was on an official visit to the Jenin refugee camp in the Occupied West Bank, CNN reported.

The delegation of about 20 regional, European, and Western diplomats was standing near the entrance of the Jenin refugee camp when they heard gunshots on Wednesday, an aid worker told the Associated Press.

Responding to the incident, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "The occupation forces opened heavy fire from inside the Jenin refugee camp to intimidate the diplomatic delegation that is conducting a field tour around the camp to witness the extent of the suffering endured by the residents of the area."

The Palestinian Ministry shared clips of the incident:

In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: "...the delegation deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not authorized to be. IDF soldiers operating in the area fired warning shots to distance them away. No injuries or damages were reported."

The Ministry added: "The IDF regrets the inconvenience caused."

In turn, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it denies the Israeli "narrative."

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The incident comes the day after the European Commission agreed to conduct a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Enacted in June 2000, the Agreement dictates in part that relations between Israel and the EU will be "based on respect for human rights and democratic principles."

Ireland and Spain called for a review of the Agreement in February 2024, but failed to gain enough support. 

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Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin welcomed the decision to review the Agreement, but added: "Operation of the Agreement should now be suspended immediately pending the outcome as a sign that there can be no business as usual.

"I expect the review to be carried out expeditiously and effectively and to have meaningful consequences.

"Human rights clauses have to mean something."

He continued: "In keeping with our commitment in the Programme for Government, we will continue to progress work on fit-for-purpose legislation to prohibit settlement goods from the occupied Palestinian territories.

"We will do so in a way that is in line with the Constitution, that limits the risk of EU infringement procedures, and that takes account of the wider context."

Similarly, the Tánaiste said in the Dáil on Wednesday: "The government’s position and, indeed, that of the EU is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of the two-State solution.

"As this House will be aware, the government carried out an extensive analysis and review of the Occupied Territories Bill late last year.

"The government’s analysis was that substantive amendments would be required to most, if not all, of the Bill’s provisions in order to bring it in line with the Constitution and to try to reduce the risk of EU infringement procedures.

"The Programme for Government sets out a clear commitment to progress legislation prohibiting goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, following the July 2024 International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion.

"As I said earlier, I now intend to advance this commitment by bringing a memorandum to Government next week."