Mexico’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel’s ambassador after Israeli troops fired warning shots to deter a delegation of diplomats—including two Mexicans—in Jenin, West Bank.
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, SRE) issued a formal demand for explanations from the Government of Israel after Israeli Defense Forces personnel fired warning shots to intimidate a group of international diplomats visiting Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. Among those targeted were Pedro Blanco Pérez, head of Mexico’s Office of Representation in Palestine, and his alternate, Julio César Escobedo Flores. Both Mexican envoys were unharmed, but the incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of diplomatic missions and adherence to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
According to an official SRE statement, the diplomatic delegation—comprising representatives from 32 countries—was conducting a routine field visit when Israeli soldiers opened fire into the air without prior warning. Mexico’s Foreign Minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, personally contacted Blanco and Escobedo to confirm their well-being and to reiterate Mexico’s support. The SRE emphasized that at no point were the diplomats informed they were entering a restricted or “unauthorized” area, nor did they receive any verbal or written notice to vacate the premises before shots were fired.
The Israeli military, for its part, defended the action by stating that the delegation had ventured into a zone closed for security reasons. A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said soldiers had observed an unannounced movement of people near a sensitive installation and responded with warning shots. Nevertheless, the SRE underscored that Protocol I of the Vienna Convention guarantees the inviolability of diplomatic agents “under any circumstances,” and that such measures, if taken without proper notification, represent a breach of international law.
In its communique, Mexico reminded Israel that it is a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and is therefore obliged to respect its stipulations. Article 29 of the Convention explicitly states that “the person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable,” further prohibiting any form of arrest or detention. The Mexican Foreign Ministry has requested a detailed report from Israel’s embassy in Mexico City, as well as an official explanation of the rules of engagement that led to the use of live ammunition.
The incident has attracted attention amid heightened tensions in the West Bank, where Israeli military operations and Palestinian protests have been escalating over the past months. Jenin, a city long regarded as a flashpoint, has seen frequent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian residents. While Israel cites security concerns—especially around potential weapons smuggling and militant activity—human rights groups have criticized what they describe as indiscriminate tactics and collective punishment of the local population.
This is not the first time that foreign diplomats have encountered security challenges in the occupied territories. Earlier this year, a delegation from the European Union reported restrictive checkpoints and sporadic harassment by Israeli troops in areas designated for civil administration by the Palestinian Authority. Those incidents, however, did not involve the discharge of firearms in the proximity of accredited envoys.
Analysts suggest that Mexico’s vocal reaction reflects its broader commitment to upholding international law and safeguarding its diplomatic corps abroad. “Mexico has historically been a proponent of diplomatic protections and multilateralism,” noted Dr. Elena Martínez, an expert in international relations at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. “By demanding accountability, Mexico seeks to reinforce the norms that ensure diplomats can operate safely, even in volatile environments.”
In response to the SRE’s demand, the Israeli embassy in Mexico issued a brief acknowledgment, stating that it was reviewing the matter and would cooperate with any formal inquiries. No timeline has been set for Israel’s reply, but diplomatic protocol typically allows 48 to 72 hours for a formal response to such queries. Should Israel’s explanation prove unsatisfactory, Mexico reserves the right to elevate the matter to international bodies, including the United Nations’ Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space—though such action remains unlikely given the bilateral nature of the complaint.
The United States and several European nations have refrained from public commentary on this specific episode, citing ongoing back-channel discussions with Israeli authorities regarding security policy in the West Bank. Nevertheless, the incident may prompt other governments to seek assurances about the safety of their own diplomatic staff in contested areas.
Back in Mexico City, the SRE is preparing to convene special consultations with the Mexican embassy in Tel Aviv and senior legal advisers. These sessions will focus on drafting the formal diplomatic note—known as a démarche—that Mexico plans to deliver to Israel. Experts expect Mexico to request not only a factual account of the events but also a commitment to reinforce notification procedures and clear communication channels before any future security operations near diplomatic missions.
The Mexican government has underscored that its inquiry is not intended to undermine Israel’s right to conduct legitimate security operations, but rather to insist on adherence to universally accepted diplomatic safeguards. “Our goal is to prevent any recurrence and to ensure that diplomatic agents, regardless of nationality, are afforded the protections to which they are entitled under international treaties,” the SRE statement concluded.
