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

Israel's highest-ranking officer claims strike that killed three Brits was 'grave mistake'

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.

Key Points

• American-Canadian aid worker among seven killed in airstrike on Gaza as Biden poised to sell jets to Israel
• ‘Let’s take every opportunity to feed Gaza’: Aid worker’s message before she was killed
• Biden has spoken to WCK founder Jose Andres

[3 April 2024 10:38 · Athena Stavrou]

Shadow treasury minister says Israel gone ‘too far'

The UK and US are saying Israel has “gone too far” in its war against Hamas, shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones has said.

Asked if he would support the UK ending arms sales to Israel, Mr Jones told Good Morning Britain: “The fact of the matter is if the UK, for example, stopped supplying arms, the war would not end. What we need to do is get the parties to a position where the fighting can stop.

“I think what we’ve seen from President Biden, from Keir Starmer, and now from Lord Cameron, our own foreign secretary, is that countries that supported Israel’s right to defend itself and to recover its hostages from Hamas terrorists in Gaza, which clearly is their right to have done in the first place, have all said that you’ve gone too far, that we need to bring this war to an end, we need to get around the negotiating table, we need to aid to get to people who desperately need it in Gaza.

“This latest situation, not only has it resulted in the death of aid workers, which is unacceptable, but it’s now making it much harder for aid to be made available to people who are in the most desperate situations.”

Mr Jones declined to say whether Israel was violating international law.

He said: “As always, on questions of international law, it’s for judges and courts to make that decision, not for politicians.”

[3 April 2024 10:37 · Athena Stavrou]

Downing Street’s full statement on PM’s call with Netanyahu

A Downing Street spokesman said on Tuesday: “The Prime Minister spoke to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening.

“He said he was appalled by the killing of aid workers, including three British nationals, in an air strike in Gaza yesterday and demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation into what happened.

“The Prime Minister said far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives in Gaza and the situation is increasingly intolerable.

“The UK expects to see immediate action by Israel to end restrictions on humanitarian aid, deconflict with the UN and aid agencies, protect civilians and repair vital infrastructure like hospitals and water networks.

“The Prime Minister reiterated that Israel’s rightful aim of defeating Hamas would not be achieved by allowing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”

(EPA)