President Joe Biden voiced his anger on Tuesday regarding the tragic deaths of seven humanitarian aid workers, including one American, from the nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen. These individuals lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
“They were distributing food to civilians in the midst of a war,” stated Biden. “Their courage and selflessness are commendable. It is truly tragic that they lost their lives.”
Biden reached out to chef José Andrés, the founder of the organization in 2010, to offer his condolences. The president expressed his deep sadness over the loss of the workers and commended the group for their unwavering and courageous work in providing food to those in need worldwide.
Israel has promised to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the airstrikes that targeted the vehicles of the aid workers. “The investigation needs to be prompt, ensuring accountability, and its results should be made available to the public,” Biden emphasized.
On Monday, a tragic incident occurred when a convoy of workers was attacked as they were leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse. The convoy had just finished unloading over 100 tons of humanitarian food aid, which had been brought to Gaza by sea. According to the group, this devastating attack resulted in the loss of seven lives.
The group stated that it had coordinated its movements with the Israeli military and that workers had been traveling in two armored cars displaying the World Central Kitchen logo. Among those who lost their lives was Jacob Flickinger, a 33-year-old individual who held citizenship in both the United States and Canada.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep regret over the unintended and tragic airstrike that resulted in the loss of innocent lives among the workers.
During a press conference at the White House, John Kirby, the spokesperson for the Biden administration’s national security concerns, emphasized that there is no evidence to suggest that the Israelis were aware that they were targeting humanitarian workers. Kirby further emphasized that the tragic deaths of these workers reflect a broader issue and serve as evidence of the ongoing challenges in distributing aid in Gaza.
According to Kirby, the Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7th, has resulted in the tragic loss of over 200 humanitarian workers’ lives.
Biden expressed his sorrow over the workers’ deaths, emphasizing that the tragedy is even more devastating because it was not an isolated incident.
According to one expert, this ongoing conflict has resulted in a distressing number of casualties among aid workers. He highlights that the high death toll has made it incredibly challenging to distribute much-needed humanitarian aid in Gaza. The lack of adequate protection for aid workers attempting to deliver essential assistance to civilians is cited as a significant obstacle in this regard.
According to Biden, Israel has not taken sufficient measures to safeguard civilians.
“The United States has been consistently urging Israel to synchronize their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian efforts to prevent civilian casualties,” he stated. Following the tragic loss of seven of its workers, the World Central Kitchen has decided to temporarily halt its operations in Gaza.”
During a recent statement, President Biden expressed the commitment of the United States to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. He emphasized the determination to utilize all possible resources for this purpose. Additionally, President Biden vowed to urge Israel to enhance their efforts in facilitating the delivery of aid. Furthermore, he emphasized that his administration is actively advocating for an immediate ceasefire as a crucial component of a hostage-release agreement.
“I currently have a team based in Cairo who is diligently working on this task,” he confidently stated.
