top line
World Central Kitchen said on Thursday that aid workers in the Gaza Strip had been attacked in the Gaza Strip, hours after the aid organization's founder and celebrity chef José Andres claimed that a vehicle carrying workers was “systematically” targeted. They called for an independent investigation into the Israeli airstrike that killed seven people.
Palestinians inspect vehicle with World Central Kitchen logo destroyed by Israelis … [+]
important facts
In a statement posted on its website, the aid group appeared to be pushing back against Israeli statements calling the attack a “tragic event” and “what happens in war.” Three WCK vehicles were targeted.”
The group reiterated that all three vehicles bore the World Central Kitchen logo and that Israeli authorities were aware of their “itinerary, route and humanitarian mission.”
The statement called for an “independent third-party investigation” to determine whether the airstrike was “deliberate or carried out in violation of international law.”
The group also called on the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Poland, the countries whose citizens were killed in the air strikes, to join in calling for an independent investigation.
The group also called on the Israeli government to preserve all documents, communications, videos, audio and other materials that may be related to the incident.
important quotes
“An independent investigation is the only way to find out what happened, ensure transparency and accountability for those responsible, and prevent future attacks on humanitarian workers,” the group added in a statement. Ta.
news peg
In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Andres claimed that the strikes targeted relief workers who were killed “systematically, car by car.” He added that this wasn't just an unlucky situation where, “Oh, I dropped a bomb in the wrong place…This is over a mile and a half, a mile and a half, with a very clear humanitarian convoy in the lead.'' “There were signs posted on the rooftops,” he added. This is a very colorful logo. ” When asked if he agreed with the assessment by the Israeli government and Washington that the attack was unintentional, Andres said: “Yes. Humanitarian. ”
Main background
Seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were killed in the Gaza Strip late Monday after Israeli forces bombed their convoy. Aid groups said the workers who died were Australian, Polish, British and Palestinian, and one was a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. The group said the attack occurred as the convoy was moving in a “non-conflict zone” after delivering more than 100 tonnes of food aid to a warehouse in the southern Gaza city of Deir al-Balah. The group also said it coordinated its activities with the IDF. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the Israeli military would conduct an investigation into the “tragic” incident and said aid workers were carrying out “the important mission of delivering food to people in need.” It pointed out. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident an “unintentional attack” on “innocent people” and said Israeli authorities would do everything “to ensure that something like this never happens again.”
References
Chef Jose Andres says Israel is targeting aid workers “systematically, car by car” (Reuters)
Prime Minister Netanyahu says 7 Gaza aid workers killed in Israel's 'unintentional attack' (Forbes)
