On Monday, an Israeli strike on an aid convoy in Gaza killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity workers, including Palestinian, Australian, British, and Polish residents. Israel responded by saying that they were “mistakenly killed” and promised to open an investigation.
Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, a 25-year-old Palestinian, Lalzawmi Frankcom, a 43-year-old Australian, Damian Sobol, a 35-year-old Pole, were all killed by the strike. James Kirby, 47, John Chapman, 57, and James Henderson, 33–all from the U.S.–and Jacob Flickinger, 33, from Canada, were all struck down in that attack.
Humanitarian aid to Gaza was in jeopardy when WCK, a major source of supplies to the Strip, halted operations.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog apologized for the killings.
In a video statement, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi described the event as a “grave mistake” and stated that “it shouldn’t have happened,” blaming the strike on misidentification.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged Israel on Tuesday to investigate and explain the deaths of relief workers, including those of British nationals, in Gaza.
Sunak said he was “shocked and saddened” and that the administration was working quickly to confirm all of the circumstances.
On Tuesday, Canada denounced the Israeli attack in Gaza that killed the seven charity workers, one of whom was Canadian, and demanded a thorough inquiry.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Tuesday, “I am horrified to hear reports of the IDF strike taking the lives of seven WCK employees in Gaza yesterday, including a Canadian citizen.”
U.S. President Joe Biden slammed the strike, calling it “outrageous and heartbreaking,” and accusing Israel of failing to safeguard aid workers.
United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called for an immediate ceasefire, and described the tragedy as an “inevitable result” of the way the war is going between Hamas and Israel.
A total of 32,975 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since October, while 75,577 have sustained injuries, the Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday.