An Israeli cabinet minister has termed as “nonsense” the allegations that Israeli forces deliberately targeted the seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK) in Gaza.
WCK founder José Andrés in an interview has said that Israeli forces had targeted his workers “systematically, car by car”.
Nir Barkat, Israel’s minister of economy, told the BBC that strikes were a “grave mistake” and that an investigation was underway. He said that Tel Aviv was “terribly sorry” but “unfortunately, in wars friendly fire happens”.
The incident has been condemned internationally. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has “demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation”, while US President Joe Biden has said that the Israeli government was not doing enough to protect workers and civilians.
“The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties,” Biden said.
According to WCK, the aid convoy was hit while leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, “where the team had unloaded more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route”.
The convoy was made up of three vehicles, including two that were armoured, which clearly displayed the charity’s logo.
The United Nations has said that at least 180 humanitarian workers have been killed in the war so far. The situation is dire in northern Gaza with the UN saying that the population is on the brink of starvation. Recently, the International Court of Justice in The Hague had ordered Israel to take all the necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies arrive without delay to the Palestinian population in Gaza.
The court had said that the Palestinians in Gaza were facing worsening conditions of life, and famine and starvation are spreading.
“The court observes that Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine… but that famine is setting in,” the judges said in their order.
