‘Grave Mistake’: IDF Apologises After Sunak, Biden Hit Out At Israel For Killing Aid Workers In Gaza
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) chief Herzi Halevi apologised for the strike that killed seven aid workers in Gaza. The deaths prompted a chorus of international outrage with global leaders condemning Israel for the strike.
Halevi said the strike was “grave mistake”. “This incident was a grave mistake. It shouldn’t have happened. (There was a) misidentification. We are sorry for the unintentional harm to the members of WCK,” Halevi was quoted as saying.
US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Australian and Polish governments stepped up their criticism of Israel following the death of the aid workers.
News agency AFP said that the convoy, emblazoned with WCK’s logo, lied in the location where it was struck with a punctured roof among the mangled wreck of other vehicles.
The WCK has been involved in feeding displaced Gazans since the start of the war in October and spearheading the delivery of food aid arriving by sea. The organisation said that the workers killed on Monday had just unloaded 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route.
“These 7 beautiful souls were killed by the IDF in a strike as they were returning from a full day’s mission,” WCK CEO Erin Gore said. Her organisation earlier accused Israelis of intentionally targeting the aid workers.
“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war,” Gore said in an earlier statement.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Polish government, the Australian PM Anthony Albanese and the international community slammed the Netanyahu government for the strikes even after Netanyahu ordered a probe.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military had “unintentionally” killed the aid workers, calling it a “tragic case” that would be investigated “right to the end”.
“Outraged. Incidents like yesterdays simply should not happen,” US President Joe Biden said. The world leader almost explicitly blamed Israel for the strikes.
“Three hits on three cars in a row is not an accident. We aren’t stupid,” an US official was quoted as saying by news outlet Politico. The official claimed that the strikes were intentional.
UK PM Rishi Sunak phoned Netanyahu and said that the ‘situation is increasingly intolerable’ and demanded a probe. The 10 Downing Street officials said Sunak “demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation” into the deaths.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conveyed his country’s anger and concern to Prime Minister Netanyahu in a lengthy phone call, emphasizing the need for a thorough explanation. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski similarly called for an independent investigation from Israeli counterpart Israel Katz. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded full accountability, deeming it unacceptable for aid workers to be killed by the IDF.
Comments
0 comment