European diplomats attacked by Israeli settlers in West Bank

A convoy of European diplomats was attacked by masked Israeli settlers in the village of Taybeh near Ramallah, West Bank, according to BBC. Video footage showed settlers confronting the convoy and throwing stones. The diplomats came from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church.

Belgium condemned the assault on its consul general and called for those responsible to be brought to justice, according to BBC. Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prevot said Israel must protect diplomats and end impunity for violent settlers.

The Israel Defense Forces said it strongly condemned the severe act of violence and that a preliminary inquiry found no IDF soldiers present at the scene, according to BBC. Netanyahu's office suggested the incident was part of a coordinated campaign to smear Israel and urged caution before drawing conclusions, according to BBC.

Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, condemned the violence by “Israeli rioters” and said the foreign ministry was in contact with the ambassadors, according to BBC. He added that coordination with the IDF could have helped safeguard the visitors, according to BBC.

Israeli police and forensic investigators have launched an investigation to establish the facts and identify those responsible, according to BBC. The office of the Prime Minister named the injured French official as Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, and said images on social media do not establish the complete sequence of events, according to BBC.