Israeli allies angered by deadly World Central Kitchen strike, as Gaza food aid left in doubt
CBC
Some of Israel's closest allies, including the United States, have condemned the deaths of seven aid workers who were killed by airstrikes in Gaza — a loss that prompted multiple charities to suspend food deliveries to Palestinians on the brink of starvation.
The deaths of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers threatened to set back efforts by the U.S. and other countries to open a maritime corridor for aid from Cyprus to help ease the desperate conditions in northern Gaza.
U.S. President Joe Biden issued an unusually blunt criticism of Israel by its closest ally, suggesting that the incident demonstrated that Israel was not doing enough to protect civilians.
"Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians," he said, adding he was "outraged and heartbroken" by their killings.
"Incidents like yesterday's simply should not happen," he added. "The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties."
WATCH l Palestinian feels 'hopelessness' after latest blow to food aid delivery:
The White House said Biden spoke by phone with celebrity chef José Andrés, who founded World Central Kitchen, to express his condolences.
Andrés said he was "heartbroken" by the deaths of the staffers.
"The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Several humanitarian aid organizations suspended operations in Gaza on Tuesday, including WCK, and the U.S. expressed concern that the killings could have a chilling impact on other groups carrying out aid operations in the territory.
Anera, a Washington-based aid group that has been operating in the Palestinian territories for decades, said it was taking the "unprecedented" step of pausing its Gaza operations, which involve providing around 150,000 meals daily.
"The escalating risks associated with aid delivery leave us with no choice," it said in a statement.
Among the dead were citizens of some of Israel's closest allies, including Jacob Flickinger, a U.S.-Canada dual citizen. The UN says more than 180 humanitarian workers have been killed in the war so far, which was started Oct. 7 when militants led by Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by several Western nations, launched attacks in southern Israel.
Ships still laden with some 218 tonnes of aid from the charitable group turned back from Gaza just a day after arriving, according to Cyprus. Other humanitarian aid organizations also suspended operations in Gaza, saying it was too dangerous to offer help.
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