Israeli airstrike kills six aid workers, sparking outrage
World Central Kitchen suspends Gaza ops; US seeks probe
An apparent Israeli airstrike killed six international aid workers with the World Central Kitchen and their Palestinian driver, the charity said Tuesday, in a potentially major setback to efforts to deliver aid by sea to Gaza, where Israel’s offensive against Hamas has pushed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the brink of starvation.
The food charity, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, said it was immediately suspending operations in the region.
The source of fire late Monday could not be independently confirmed. The Israeli military expressed “sincere sorrow” over the deaths while stopping short of accepting responsibility. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top military spokesman, said that officials are reviewing the incident at the highest levels. He says an independent investigation will be launched that “will help us reduce the risk of such an event from occurring again.” Footage showed the bodies, several wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo, at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-balah. Those killed include three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national and an American-canadian dual citizen, according to hospital records. The charity said the team was travelling in a three-car convoy that included two armoured vehicles. Acknowledging the strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Unfortunately over the last day there was a tragic incident of an unintended strike of our forces on innocent people in the Gaza Strip.” He says officials are “checking this thoroughly” and “will do everything for this not to happen again”.
An official in Cyprus said aid ships that arrived in Gaza this week will return to the Mediterranean island nation carrying some 240 tonnes of undelivered aid after a deadly strike killed 6 aid workers.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington has urged Israel to carry out a swift, and impartial investigation. France’s Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne also ‘strongly condemned’ the strike. “The protection of humanitarian personnel is a moral and legal imperative,” Sejourne said.
UNFORTUNATELY OVER THE LAST DAY THERE WAS A TRAGIC INCIDENT OF AN UNINTENDED STRIKE OF OUR FORCES ON INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE GAZA STRIP. CHECKING THIS THOROUGHLY”
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister