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Biden 'outraged' over Israel strike on World Central Kitchen staff in Gaza | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Watch: Video shows World Central Kitchen vehicles destroyed in Gaza air strike | Watch: Video shows World Central Kitchen vehicles destroyed in Gaza air strike |
Watch: Video shows World Central Kitchen vehicles destroyed in Gaza air strike | Watch: Video shows World Central Kitchen vehicles destroyed in Gaza air strike |
US President Joe Biden has condemned Israel's killing of seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza. | |
Saying he was "outraged and heartbroken", he accused Israel of not doing enough to protect aid workers. | |
Israel promised an independent investigation after the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Poland lost nationals in Monday's attack. | |
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has apologised for the deaths. | Israeli President Isaac Herzog has apologised for the deaths. |
Mr Biden called for Israel's investigation to be conducted swiftly, and said it "must bring accountability" and its findings be made public. | |
Distributing aid in Gaza had been "so difficult", he said, because Israel had "not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians". | |
In some of his strongest language since the war began, Mr Biden also accused Israel of not doing enough to protect Palestinian civilians. | |
"The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties," the US leader said. | |
Humanitarian aid to Gaza is in doubt after WCK - a key provider of aid to the Strip - suspended operations. | |
Three of the killed aid workers were British nationals. A Polish national, an Australian, a Palestinian and a dual US-Canadian citizen were also killed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has promised an independent investigation into the incident. | Three of the killed aid workers were British nationals. A Polish national, an Australian, a Palestinian and a dual US-Canadian citizen were also killed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has promised an independent investigation into the incident. |
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. On the call, he described the situation in Gaza as "increasingly intolerable" and "demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation" into the killing of the aid workers. | UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. On the call, he described the situation in Gaza as "increasingly intolerable" and "demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation" into the killing of the aid workers. |
Mr Sunak added that Israel needed to end restrictions on humanitarian aid and protect civilians, according to a Downing Street statement. | Mr Sunak added that Israel needed to end restrictions on humanitarian aid and protect civilians, according to a Downing Street statement. |
In other reaction: | In other reaction: |
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had "expressed Australia's anger and concern" in a long phone call with Mr Netanyahu, and that he expected a "full and proper explanation for how this has occurred" | Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had "expressed Australia's anger and concern" in a long phone call with Mr Netanyahu, and that he expected a "full and proper explanation for how this has occurred" |
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said he had demanded an independent investigation from Israel Katz, his Israeli counterpart | Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said he had demanded an independent investigation from Israel Katz, his Israeli counterpart |
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said "full accountability" was needed, adding that it was "absolutely unacceptable for aid workers to be killed" by the IDF | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said "full accountability" was needed, adding that it was "absolutely unacceptable for aid workers to be killed" by the IDF |
Acknowledging that Israel's forces had hit "innocent people", Mr Netanyahu pledged an independent investigation. | Acknowledging that Israel's forces had hit "innocent people", Mr Netanyahu pledged an independent investigation. |
"Unfortunately, in the last 24 hours there was a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip," he said. | "Unfortunately, in the last 24 hours there was a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip," he said. |
"It happens in war, we check it to the end, we are in contact with the governments, and we will do everything so that this thing does not happen again." | "It happens in war, we check it to the end, we are in contact with the governments, and we will do everything so that this thing does not happen again." |
BBC VERIFY: What do we know so far? | BBC VERIFY: What do we know so far? |
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN: Facing danger to feed millions | WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN: Facing danger to feed millions |
Charity founder 'heartbroken' over workers' deaths | Charity founder 'heartbroken' over workers' deaths |
ANALYSIS: Deadly strike shows aid workers' protection in crisis, agencies say | ANALYSIS: Deadly strike shows aid workers' protection in crisis, agencies say |
PROFILES: Who were the seven aid workers killed in Gaza? | PROFILES: Who were the seven aid workers killed in Gaza? |
WCK - founded by celebrity chef José Andrés - is one of the main suppliers of aid to Gaza. Four days ago, it said that it had served 42 million meals in the territory - dispatching more than 1,700 food trucks and also sending close to 435,000 meals by sea. | WCK - founded by celebrity chef José Andrés - is one of the main suppliers of aid to Gaza. Four days ago, it said that it had served 42 million meals in the territory - dispatching more than 1,700 food trucks and also sending close to 435,000 meals by sea. |
The charity has said it will pause its operations in the region immediately. "We will be making decisions about the future of our work soon," it said in a statement. | The charity has said it will pause its operations in the region immediately. "We will be making decisions about the future of our work soon," it said in a statement. |
According to Cogat, the Israeli defence ministry body in charge of civilian policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, WCK is responsible for 60% of the non-governmental aid getting into the territory. | According to Cogat, the Israeli defence ministry body in charge of civilian policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, WCK is responsible for 60% of the non-governmental aid getting into the territory. |
A second charity, the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), which was working closely with WCK, told the BBC it was also freezing its operations in Gaza. | A second charity, the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), which was working closely with WCK, told the BBC it was also freezing its operations in Gaza. |
WCK released pictures of the victims | WCK released pictures of the victims |
The aid workers who were killed have been named as: | The aid workers who were killed have been named as: |
Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, an Australian citizen | Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, an Australian citizen |
Damian Sobol, a Polish citizen | Damian Sobol, a Polish citizen |
Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, a Palestinian | Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, a Palestinian |
Jacob Flickinger, a US-Canadian citizen | Jacob Flickinger, a US-Canadian citizen |
John Chapman, a British citizen | John Chapman, a British citizen |
James Henderson, a British citizen | James Henderson, a British citizen |
James Kirby, a British citizen | James Kirby, a British citizen |
Mr Sobol, Mr Abu Taha and Mr Flickinger worked on WCK's relief team, which Ms Frankcom led, while Mr Chapman, Mr Henderson and Mr Kirby were part of its security team. | Mr Sobol, Mr Abu Taha and Mr Flickinger worked on WCK's relief team, which Ms Frankcom led, while Mr Chapman, Mr Henderson and Mr Kirby were part of its security team. |
All seven were "heroes", the chief executive of WCK said. | All seven were "heroes", the chief executive of WCK said. |
"We have countless memories of them giving their best selves to the world. We are reeling from our loss. The world's loss," Erin Gore said in a statement. | "We have countless memories of them giving their best selves to the world. We are reeling from our loss. The world's loss," Erin Gore said in a statement. |
According to the charity, the aid convoy was hit while leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, "where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route". | According to the charity, the aid convoy was hit while leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, "where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route". |
The convoy was made up of three vehicles, including two that were armoured, which clearly displayed the charity's logo. All three were hit during the strike. | The convoy was made up of three vehicles, including two that were armoured, which clearly displayed the charity's logo. All three were hit during the strike. |
WCK said it had co-ordinated the convoy's movements with the IDF. | WCK said it had co-ordinated the convoy's movements with the IDF. |
More than 196 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October, according to the US-funded Aid Worker Security Database, which records major incidents of violence against aid personnel. Not all have been killed in the line of duty. | More than 196 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October, according to the US-funded Aid Worker Security Database, which records major incidents of violence against aid personnel. Not all have been killed in the line of duty. |
Much of the Gaza Strip has been devastated during the Israeli military operations that began after Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages. | Much of the Gaza Strip has been devastated during the Israeli military operations that began after Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages. |
About 130 of the hostages remain in captivity, at least 34 of whom are presumed dead. | About 130 of the hostages remain in captivity, at least 34 of whom are presumed dead. |
More than 32,916 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says. | More than 32,916 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Middle East | Middle East |
Israel-Gaza war | Israel-Gaza war |
Israel | Israel |
Gaza | Gaza |
United States | United States |
Poland | Poland |
Canada | Canada |
Australia | Australia |
Joe Biden |