In recent developments, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that the United States does not currently plan to conduct its own investigation into the killings of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers in Gaza. Instead, the administration is closely examining the findings of the Israeli government’s investigation into the incident. The Israeli military’s probe resulted in the dismissal of two senior officers, citing serious errors and protocol violations leading to the deadly airstrikes on the WCK convoy.
The humanitarian aid group has called for an independent investigation, expressing concerns about the credibility of the Israeli government investigating its own actions in Gaza. However, Kirby emphasized that the U.S. has not found evidence suggesting that Israel intentionally targeted the aid workers. This stance comes amid discussions about adherence to international humanitarian law during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
President Biden’s administration has indicated that meaningful changes may be required in Gaza policy if Israel does not take decisive steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. Biden conveyed this message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a recent call, marking a shift in U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The White House has not specified the potential changes in U.S. policy but mentioned possibilities such as altering military sales to Israel and adjusting America’s diplomatic support on the international stage. The U.S. expects Israel to announce and implement specific measures to mitigate civilian harm and ensure the safety of aid workers, with further assessments based on Israel’s immediate actions in response to these concerns.
