US expresses anger over Israeli airstrike that killed aid workers in Gaza
EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / TOPSHOT - United Nations staff members inspect the carcass of a car used by US-based aid group World Central Kitchen, that was hit by an Israeli strike the previous day in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on April 2, 2024, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The international food aid charity said on April 2 it was pausing its Gaza aid operations after seven of its staff were killed in a "targeted Israeli strike" as they un
U.S. President Joe Biden has denounced Israel over its airstrike in Gaza that killed seven people working for World Central Kitchen (WCK) while calling on Tel Aviv to do more to protect aid workers.
In a statement, Biden said Israel’s investigation of the incident “must be swift, it must bring accountability, and its findings must be made public.”
“Even more tragically, this is not a stand-alone incident,” Biden said.
He stressed that, “This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed.”
The strike on the convoy of the aid workers killed citizens of Australia, Britain and Poland as well as Palestinians and a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.
While reacting to the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the strike was tragic and unintended, and the Israeli military pledged an independent inquiry.
Despite the defense by the Prime Minister, Biden pointed out that Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers or civilians in Gaza.
He said “The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties.”
Biden stated that he spoke with WCK founder Jose Andres to express his deepest sympathies and support for the organization’s “relentless and heroic efforts to get food to hungry people around the globe.”
