The White House on Tuesday condemned as “outrageous” a deadly Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers, including an American, in Gaza.
However, in a sign of how Washington has positioned itself as Israel’s most loyal defender, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said US officials would wait for the results of an investigation before drawing broader conclusions.
And he insisted that it was not about stopping arms sales to Israel.
“We were outraged to learn of an (Israel Defense Forces) attack yesterday that killed several civilian aid workers from the World Central Kitchen, which has been relentless in working to bring food to the hungry in Gaza and, frankly, , all over the world,” he said.
“We send our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.”
“We were outraged to learn of an IDF attack that killed several civilian aid workers yesterday from the World Central Kitchen,” said White House spokesman John Kirby.
Other world leaders immediately condemned the strike. London asked the Israeli ambassador for explanations after three Britons were identified among the dead.
Instead, after expressing his outrage, Kirby had to be asked whether or not the United States would condemn the attack on vehicles clearly marked with clear aid logos.
“I think that by saying we are outraged, you can characterize that as a condemnation of the strike itself,” he said.
Deliberately killing humanitarian workers is a violation of international humanitarian law.
Opponents of President Joe Biden’s close support for Israel said it was more evidence to support their demand that he immediately halt further military aid to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
But Kirby said the United States was not willing to impose conditions on military assistance.
—I know you want us to put some kind of condition on their necks. And what I tell you is that we continue to work with the Israelis to make sure that they are as accurate as possible.
“And more help is coming and we’re going to continue to take that approach.”
Seven aid workers, including a US citizen, have been killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike in Gaza, charity World Central Kitchen has confirmed. Pictured: A destroyed car displaying the charity’s logo is seen from above on Tuesday.
Palestinians inspect a vehicle with the World Central Kitchen logo that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday.
World Central Kitchen was founded by famous chef José Andrés. Here he appears with President Joe Biden, who saw his work in Warsaw, Poland, helping Ukrainian refugees.
The Brits were named as James Henderson, 33 (left), a former special forces operator and member of the Royal Marines, and John Chapman, a former Royal Marine and father of two.
He also dismissed any suggestion that the strike was deliberate.
“There is no evidence of that,” he said.
Palestinian health officials say 32,000 people have died since Israel began its bombings on October 7, following a terrorist attack by Hamas gunmen that killed 1,200 people.
But WCK’s murder will resonate particularly in Washington, DC, where the charity is based. It was founded by famous chef José Andrés, who has participated in events with President Joe Biden.
The group has become increasingly known for its work in disasters and war zones.
The charity said its workers were traveling in two armored vehicles marked with its logo and a third vehicle.
Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom (pictured), 44, from Melbourne, was killed along with three other international aid workers and a Palestinian driver, in central Gaza, while working with the World Central Kitchen charity on Monday.
Polish world central cuisine and aid worker Damian Sobol, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
A UN worker holds James Henderson’s passport at the strike site
This photograph taken from Israel’s southern border with the Gaza Strip shows humanitarian aid being airdropped over the besieged Palestinian territory on April 2.
The convoy was hit as it left the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where it had unloaded more than 100 tons of food aid.
The attack killed citizens of Australia, Britain and Poland, as well as Palestinians and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.
The IDF said it had launched an investigation into the incident at the “highest levels” and reiterated that it has been “working closely” with the charity, but also “makes great efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.”
Netanyahu said: ‘Unfortunately, last day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip.
‘This happens in war. We are carrying out a thorough investigation and are in contact with governments. “We will do everything possible to prevent it from happening again.”