The White House criticizes Israeli attack killing humanitarian workers in Gaza

The White House on Tuesday condemned as ‘outrageous’ a deadly Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers, including an American, in Gaza.

Yet in a sign of how Washington has set itself as Israel’s most loyal defender, John Kirby, White House national security spokesman, said American officials would wait for the results of an investigation before drawing wider conclusions.

And he insisted there was no question of halting weapons sales to Israel. 

‘We were outraged to learn of an [Israel Defense Forces]strike that killed a number of civilian humanitarian workers yesterday from the World Central Kitchen, which has been relentless and working to get food to those who are hungry in Gaza, and quite frankly, around the world,’ he said.

‘We send our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.’

Other world leaders immediately condemned the strike. London called in the Israeli ambassador for an explanation after three Britons were identified among the dead.

In contrast, after expressing outrage, Kirby had to be asked whether or not the U.S. would condemn the attack on vehicles clearly marked with clear aid logos.

‘I think by our saying we’re outraged, I think you can fairly characterise that as condemning the strike itself,’ he said. 

Deliberately killing aid workers is a breach 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 more military aid going to the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

But Kirby said that the U.S. was not about to set conditions on military assistance. 

‘I know you want you  want us to hang some sort of condition over their neck. And what I’m telling you is that we continue to to work with the Israelis to make sure that they are as precise as they can be.

‘And that more aid is getting in and we’re gonna continue to take that approach.’

He also brushed away any suggestion that the strike was deliberate.

‘There’s no evidence of that,’ he said. 

Palestinian health officials say 32,000 people have been killed since Israel began its bombardment on Oct 7, following a terrorist attack by Hamas gunmen that killed 1200 people.

But the killing of WCK will particularly resonate in Washington, DC, where the charity is based. It was founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, who has taken part in events with President Joe Biden.

The group has become increasingly well known for its work in disasters and war zones.

The charity said its workers were travelling in two armored cars marked with its logo and a third vehicle. 

The convoy was hit as it left the Deir al-Balah warehouse where it had unloaded more than 100 tonnes of food aid.

The strike killed citizens of Australia, Britain and Poland as well as Palestinians and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. 

Analysts with Bellingcat said the vehicles were hit on or beside a road designated by the United Nations as being an ‘Accessible Road for Humanitarian Aid.’

The IDF said it has launched a probe into the incident at the ‘highest levels’ and reiterated that it has been ‘working closely’ with the charity, but also ‘makes extensive efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid’. 

Netanyahu said: ‘Unfortunately in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip.

‘This happens in war. We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence.’