Seven aid workers, working for the World Central Kitchen, a charity delivering food to besieged Palestinians, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Tuesday.
Israel-Gaza War: Seven aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in war-torn north Gaza drawing condemnation from and outrage from Tel Aviv’s allies, UK and the US even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the incident, calling it a “tragic event” but asserted “this happens in war”.
Seven aid workers, working for the World Central Kitchen, a charity delivering food to besieged Palestinians, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Tuesday. The victims comprised three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian.
The aid workers were traveling in two armoured cars marked with the charity’s logo and another vehicle when their vehicle were struck by the Israeli military strike in Gaza.
‘Outraged, heartbroken’: Biden
In a statement on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said he is “outraged and heartbroken” by the tragic incident in Gaza.
“The Biden administration is outraged and has expressed deep dismay over an Israeli airstrike that resulted in the tragic deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza”, a White House official said on Tuesday, adding that Biden spoke with Jose Andres, the founder of World Central Kitchen and conveyed his condolences.
“We were outraged to learn of an IDF strike that killed a number of civilian humanitarian workers yesterday from the World Central Kitchen, which has been relentlessly working to get food to those who are hungry in Gaza, and quite frankly, around the world,” White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said at a news briefing Tuesday, adding, “We send our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.”
Kirby emphasised that both Netanyahu and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have pledged to conduct an investigation “in a swift and comprehensive manner.”
“We hope that those findings will be made public and that there is appropriate accountability held,” Kirby said.
Sunak call Israeli PM, expresses ‘deep concern’
In a similar tone, the United Kingdom also expressed its outrage over the incident with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling up Benjamin Netanyahu and personally conveying his “deep concern” over the deaths of civilians and aid workers in Gaza.
In an official statement from Downing Street, Sunak emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the incident.
“The Prime Minister said far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives in Gaza and the situation is increasingly intolerable,” the statement said.
“The UK expects to see immediate action by Israel to end restrictions on humanitarian aid, deconflict with the UN and aid agencies, protect civilians and repair vital infrastructure like hospitals and water networks,” it added.
Taking a firm stance, the UK earlier in the day summoned the Israeli ambassador to London for a decisive discussion, according to a CNN report.
British Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, summoned the Israel’s ambassador to set out the government’s “unequivocal condemnation of the appalling killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including three British Nationals,” he said in a Foreign Office press release.
“I requested a quick and transparent investigation, shared with the international community, and full accountability,” Mitchell said, adding, “I reiterated the need for Israel to put in place an effective deconfliction mechanism immediately and urgently to scale up humanitarian access.”
“We need to see an immediate humanitarian pause, to get aid in and the hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable ceasefire,” Mitchell said.
‘This is war’, says Netanyahu
Meanwhile, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the incident, stating that “innocent people” were “unintentionally struck” by its military.
“Unfortunately, in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said.
However, he asserted “this happens in war”, adding “we are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence.”
In an X post, Israeli President Isaac Herzog apologised to Andres and expressed condolences to the families of the aid workers. He assured a thorough investigation into the tragedy.
Herzog “expressed his deep sorrow and sincere apologies over the tragic loss of life of WCK staff in the Gaza Strip last night, and sent his condolences to their families and loved ones,” according to a post on X from the presidency.
“The President reiterated Israel’s commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation of the tragedy,” the post read.
200 aid workers killed in Israeli military offensive in Gaza
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has proven deadly for aid workers, with Tuesday’s incident being the deadliest in over decades of the Israel-Palestine conflict, as per the Aid Worker Security Database.
Around 200 aid workers have been killed in Israeli military action in Gaza in the past six months, surpassing casualties in other conflicts such as Afghanistan, Syria, and South Sudan over the past 20 years.
The Aid Worker Security data encompasses workers from various humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations.
Since October 7, more than 170 UN staff members have been reported killed, marking the highest number of casualties among UN personnel in history.
Additionally, fifteen Palestine Red Crescent Society workers and volunteers have lost their lives, as reported by the UN on March 29, CNN reported.
(With inputs from agencies)