2024-04-03 02:28:38
US President Joe Biden said he was “angry and heartbroken” by the killing of seven aid workers at the Central World Central Kitchen Foundation in an Israeli air strike in Gaza and called on Israel to make more efforts to protect aid workers.
Biden added in a statement on Tuesday that Israel’s investigation into the incident “must be quick, lead to accountability, and have its results published publicly.”
He added, “What is most tragic is that this is not an isolated incident. This conflict is one of the worst conflicts in recent memory in terms of the number of aid workers killed.”
The attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy claimed the lives of citizens from Australia, Britain, and Poland, in addition to two Palestinians and a citizen holding dual citizenship from the United States and Canada. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that the raid was tragic and unintentional, and the Israeli army pledged to conduct an independent investigation.
Biden said Israel did not do enough to protect aid workers or civilians in Gaza.
He added, “The United States has repeatedly urged Israel not to confuse its military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations to avoid civilian casualties.”
He added that he would continue to pressure Israel to make more efforts to deliver aid to Gaza. He said that an American team in Cairo is working to reach a ceasefire as part of an agreement to release the hostages.
Biden said he spoke with World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés to offer his condolences and express his support for the organization’s “tireless and heroic efforts to deliver food to hungry people around the world.”
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