Israel-Gaza latest: Biden says he’s ‘outraged and heartbroken’ as aid workers killed in strike are identified
President Joe Biden said he was ‘outraged and hearbroken’ after the IDF airstrike killed seven aid workers, including a US-Canadian dual citizen
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The seven aid workers who were killed in an airstrike in Gaza on Tuesday have been identified.
President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and hearbroken” after members of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) team — including US-Canadian dual citizen Jacob Flickinger —were killed by an IDF airstrike while were returning from coordinating an aid shipment.
The charity has been supplying food to starving Palestinians who are on the brink of famine amid Israel’s total war on the besieged strip.
The killings have prompted international condemnation.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly tweeted she was “horrified to hear reports of the IDF strike” and called for “full accountability for these killings.”
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said that the aid workers were in a marked aid convoy when the strike hit, adding that that it’s “clear” that the IDF “must do much more to improve deconfliction processes so that civilians and humanitarian aid workers are protected.”
Israel has pledged to conduct an independent investigation.
Flickinger was killed alongside Saifeddin Issam Ayab Abutaha of Palestine, Lalzawmi Frankcom of Australia, Damian Soból of Poland and UK citizens John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby.
Trump has maintained a strategic silence on Gaza. So what is his policy?
Donald Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet on what is likely to be one of the biggest foreign policy issues of his second term, should he win in November.
But in the few interviews and statements he has given on Israel and the war in Gaza, the former president has shown signs that he may be cooling in his support for the longtime US ally.
In a recent interview, the former president spoke about how he had been disturbed by images and videos showing civilians bearing the brunt of the onslaught and called for an end to the war.
Read the full analysis from Richard Hall here:
What is Trump’s Gaza policy as Israel kills aid workers in strike
Trump’s recent comments on Gaza have been interpreted as a sign that his previous unyielding support for Israel is not guaranteed in a second term, Richard Hall writes
Netanyahu thinks he can do what the hell he wants – we must stop him
More and more, the killing of seven international aid workers in an Israeli drone attack in Gaza feels like a turning point in this conflict – a diplomatic and political one that will soon become a military one.
We don’t yet know the full facts about what happened, and must trust that the Israeli authorities will produce a transparent and truthful account of what occurred.
The attack was certainly deliberate in the sense that it was not collateral damage from a bombing raid. What does seem to be clear, then, is that this cannot be explained away as “a mistake”, the kind of error that happens because “war is hell”, as one Israel spokesperson put it. It betrays the carelessness with which the Israeli administration has prosecuted this war.
Read the full article from Sean O’Grady here:
Netanyahu thinks he can do what the hell he wants – we must stop him
Despite claims that civilians in Gaza are being protected by the IDF, its deadly drone attack on international aid workers tells a different story, says Sean O’Grady. The West must now withdraw its support not just to save the Palestinian people and prevent more tragedies – but for the sake of Israel itself
Family of Briton killed in Gaza ‘disappointed’ at no apology from Israeli PM
The family of Israeli air strike victim James Kirby said they are “disappointed” that the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not apologise after seven aid workers were killed.
The 47-year-old was one of three British victims working for aid organisation World Central Kitchen (WCK) who died when their convoy was struck after unloading food in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu described the strike as “a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants”, adding “this happens in war”.
Read the full article here:
Family of Briton killed in Gaza ‘disappointed’ at no apology from Israeli PM
James Kirby was one of three British victims who were working for aid organisation World Central Kitchen (WCK) when they were killed.
UK should mourn deaths of British aid workers killed in Gaza, says Cameron
UK should mourn deaths of British aid workers killed in Gaza, says Cameron
Lord David Cameron has described the killings of seven aid workers in Gaza as “dreadful” and said the UK “should mourn the loss of these brave humanitarian workers”. The seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday. The humanitarian group were returning from coordinating an aid shipment in central Gaza when they were killed. As he arrived at a Nato meeting in Brussels on Wednesday (3 April), the foreign secretary said: “The dreadful events of the last two days are a moment when we should mourn the loss of these brave humanitarian workers.”
Family of Briton James Kirby killed in Gaza speak out
Labour: Government must suspend arms sales to Israel if it has breached international law
David Lammy has piled pressure on Lord Cameron to publish government advice on whether Israel is breaking international law, saying Britain must suspend arms sales to the country if so.
The shadow foreign secretary accused Lord Cameron of “going silent” after ignoring an initial request to publish the legal advice on 22 March.
And Mr Lammy called for Israel to face “serious consequences” over the killing of three British aid workers in Gaza.
The Labour MP said: “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the three heroic Brits who put their lives on the line to get Palestinian civilians the aid they desperately need.
“The law is clear. British arms licences cannot be granted if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
“Labour’s message to the government is equally clear. Publish the legal advice now. If it says there is a clear risk that UK arms might be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law, it’s time to suspend the sale of those arms. If David Cameron has received this advice, he must act on it.”
Israel has betrayed allies like Britain, says former Tory foreign minister
The killing of seven aid workers in Gaza is a “tipping point” for Israel’s international reputation and Britain should reconsider whether the country is an “ally”, a former Tory foreign minister has said.
Sir Alan Duncan, who served as a Conservative minister between 2010 and 2019, strongly condemned Israel’s killing of seven aid workers - three of whom were British - as “merciless”.
And he said the country has now “lost the support of the world” through its “deceit and callousness”.
My colleague Archie Mitchell reports:
Israel has betrayed allies like Britain, says former Tory foreign minister
Sir Alan Duncan describes the killing of seven aid workers as a ‘tipping point in its collapsing reputation’ as global outrage grew over the attacks
Rachel Reeves calls government to publish any advice about exporting arms to Israel
The Government must urgently publish any advice it has received about exporting arms to Israel, Rachel Reeves has said.
Asked whether there was a case for the UK to halt arms exports, the shadow chancellor told reporters in London: “We have urged the Government to urgently publish any reports that they have on the abidance with international law.
“The international law is clear that where arms sales are at risk of being used for purposes not consistent with international law, they shouldn’t happen.
“That is why now we are asking the Government to urgently publish the evidence that they have.”
Family tributes for Israeli airstrike victims continue
Family members of James Kirby, one of the aid workers who was killed in an Israeli air strike on Monday, have said he was an “all-round gentleman” and that the seven people who died are “like heroes to us”.
Amy Roxburgh-Barry, Mr Kirby’s cousin, told Sky News: “He was just an all-round gentleman and even with children.
“He was amazing with my son, who unfortunately does not understand because he’s only young.
“It’s just devastating that he’s fought in these wars and come home with not a scratch, and then he goes out to do something helpful, and that’s what happens.”
Adam McGuire, Mr Kirby’s cousin, said: “Not only James but the six other individuals are like heroes to us. They went out there selflessly to help some of the most desperate people in the world.”
Ms Roxburgh-Barry recalled the last phone conversation with her cousin and said he had been planning a surprise cruise for his mother and aunt.
“He wanted to send my mum and my aunty on a cruise once he’d sold his house because they felt they both needed it.
“My aunty didn’t know, it was supposed to be a surprise. That was the conversation we had, and that’s what we were going to pick up on when he was back.”
Family of British aid worker killed in Israeli airstrike will ‘forever be a hero’, his family say
The family of British aid worker John Chapman, who was killed in the Israeli air strike in Gaza, have said he will “forever be a hero”,
In a statement issued through the Foreign Office, the family of Mr Chapman, who was one of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in Gaza on Monday, said: “We are devastated to have lost John, who was killed in Gaza.
“He died trying to help people and was subject to an inhumane act. He was an incredible father, husband, son and brother.
“We request we be given space and time to grieve appropriately.
“He was loved by many and will forever be a hero. He will be missed dearly”.
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