The Biden administration reaffirmed its unwavering support for Israel’s actions despite criticism following an Israeli airstrike that resulted in the deaths of three humanitarian aid workers. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that while there are no immediate plans to alter the administration’s policy towards Israel, President Biden expects a thorough investigation into the incident.
In a statement, Biden expressed deep sorrow and condemnation for the killing of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) humanitarian workers, marking one of his strongest rebukes of Israel since the conflict began with Hamas. He emphasized the need for Israel to enhance protections for civilians. However, pressure mounts on Biden to reconsider the supply of weapons to Israel during the ongoing conflict. Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated the White House’s commitment to its current course of action regarding Israel.
The United Nations has implemented new restrictions on aid transport in Gaza, limiting deliveries to daytime only. This decision follows the tragic loss of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK) who were killed in an Israeli attack on their convoy. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric announced the temporary suspension of nighttime aid deliveries as they evaluate the safety risks faced by their staff in the region.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has strongly criticized Israel regarding the deaths of seven individuals working for Spanish-American celebrity chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza. Sanchez emphasized the need for Israel to provide clear explanations about the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
Chef Jose Andres, founder of WCK, alleged that Israel deliberately targeted the aid workers during the Gaza airstrike. In an interview with Reuters, Andres accused Israel of a systematic attack on his food aid personnel, resulting in the deaths of seven workers. He called for urgent intervention from the U.S. government to compel Prime Minister Netanyahu to end the conflict. Netanyahu, on the other hand, described the incident as a “tragic event” inherent in the nature of warfare, pledging an investigation into the matter.
Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron reacted to the deaths of British aid workers in Gaza, describing the killings as “dreadful” and emphasizing the need to mourn the loss of these brave humanitarian workers. The victims, John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby, were delivering food to besieged Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as part of the charity World Central Kitchen when they were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Alongside them, four others, including an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen, and a Palestinian, also lost their lives in the attack on the convoy as it departed the Deir al-Balah warehouse. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the deaths were the result of an “unintended strike” by Israeli forces. Speaking at a Nato meeting in Brussels, the Foreign Secretary expressed condolences to the families of the victims and highlighted the tragic loss of the three British citizens.
