The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also condemned what they described as “a severe act of violence” and said they were investigating. However, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast doubt on accounts of the incident and suggested it was part of a “coordinated campaign to smear Israel”.

The attack came just a day after several Palestinians and Heidi Levine, a Washington Post photographer, were injured in a separate assault by settlers in another West Bank village. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the attack on Levine as “disturbing” and “not a good look”.

The incident was also condemned by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who called it a “despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards”. A staunch ally of Israel, Huckabee said the assailants must face “prosecution to the fullest extent of the law”. In Saturday’s incident, the European delegation, comprising diplomats from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church, had travelled to the largely Christian village of Taybeh, near Ramallah.

They were there to assess the situation on the ground following almost daily attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians attempting to harvest their olives. Video footage from the scene showed masked settlers confronting the convoy. Reports suggest that stones were thrown. Belgian authorities said a car belonging to their consulate had a window smashed and that a French mayor was assaulted. Video footage showed a man wearing a French tricolour sash slumped beside a vehicle.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot condemned the attack and said Israel had a responsibility to bring those responsible to justice. “Palestinians face this violence every day. Settlers also target journalists reporting on it and diplomats. Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack,” he said.

“As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice. Impunity for violent settlers must end. Belgium will continue to press for EU sanctions against those responsible for this violence and those who support them.”

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said he strongly condemned the violence carried out by what he described as “Israeli rioters”. He added that the Foreign Ministry was in contact with the ambassadors of the countries involved. (BBC)