OTTAWA, ON – Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, met with senior officials from Global Affairs Canada on Wednesday following a formal summons issued by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. The meeting was in response to an incident in the West Bank earlier that day, during which Israeli soldiers fired warning shots near a diplomatic tour group that included four Canadian representatives.
The incident occurred during a multinational visit to the Jenin refugee camp, which involved diplomats from Canada, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and several other countries. A video circulating on social media shows members of the delegation speaking to media before gunfire is heard. In the footage, participants are seen moving quickly from the area as two Israeli soldiers point firearms in their direction.
While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged firing warning shots, they stated the group had “deviated” from an approved route and entered a restricted area. The IDF emphasized that no injuries were reported.
Minister Anand responded to the incident on Wednesday by demanding a full investigation and accountability, calling the incident unacceptable. “I have asked my officials to summon Israel’s Ambassador to convey Canada’s serious concerns,” she stated on social media.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Moed told The Canadian Press that he believed the formal summons was unnecessary. “Israel continues to publish information about the inquiry as it progresses, and so in my perspective there is no need for this formal act,” said Moed. However, he emphasized that lines of communication between both governments remain open and respectful.
A spokesperson from Anand’s office indicated the Canadian government had no additional comment beyond the minister’s public statements.
The foreign ministries of France and Italy have also summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors over the same incident. The governments are united in calling for clarity and accountability over the security breach that occurred during a high-level diplomatic tour.
The Israeli military has launched an internal investigation and committed to providing updates to all affected governments.