Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken about the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers killed in Gaza.
Israel’s military acknowledged that one of its airstrikes in Gaza killed the aid workers.
In a video statement, Netanyahu described the incident as “a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip.”
“This happens in wartime,” he said.
He added, “We are thoroughly looking into it, are in contact with the governments, and will do everything to ensure it does not happen again.”
Following the attack, the WCK paused operations “immediately” in the region.
Another charity, American Near East Refugee Aid(Anera), suspended its operation in Gaza.
It issued a press release explaining the “unprecedented step” it took in pausing its humanitarian operations in Gaza.
The statement disclosed that the killing of WCK humanitarians, occurring less than a month after the still-unexplained killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa, alongside the loss of numerous other aid workers and their families, has led the team to conclude that delivering aid safely is “no longer feasible.”
“For the safety of our staff and their families, we are suspending Anera’s work in Gaza,” the statement noted.
“While we understand the severe consequences this suspension will have on the Palestinian population, the escalating risks associated with aid delivery leave us with no choice but to halt operations until our staff regain confidence that they can do their work without undue risk.
“In nearly six months of conflict, this marks the first instance where our Palestinian staff in Gaza, enduring continuously hazardous conditions, have deemed the risk to their safety, and that of their families, intolerable.”
American Near East Refugee Aid
“We reiterate our demand for adequate security for humanitarian and health workers, journalists, and all civilians, and call for an immediate and enduring ceasefire,” it added.
Project Hope, which operates clinics in Rafah and Deir al Bala, also issued a statement saying that it has suspended its humanitarian work for three days pending a security review.
Aid Ships To Turn Back With Undelivered Aid
Cyprus’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Theodoros Gotsis disclosed that about 240 tons (220 tonnes) of aid meant for Gaza will be turned back.
He said that 100 tons (90 tonnes) of aid were unloaded before World Central Kitchen suspended operations after seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli strike earlier today.
The aid, which had included basic non-perishable food supplies such as flour and pasta, had reached the besieged coastal strip on a flotilla of ships that had departed the Cypriot port of Larnaca two days earlier.
Of the four vessels that had plied the route, two were carrying vital food provisions and two equipment and personnel. The humanitarian assistance had been loaded on a transport ship, the Jennifer, and a barge towed by the Spanish-flagged Open Arms.
By the time airstrike occurred, in which seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen died, only supplies from the barge had been offloaded at a makeshift jetty off the Gaza coast.
Gotsis said with the charity putting its humanitarian relief operation on pause, the cargo would probably remain in Cyprus until the completion of investigations into the tragedy.
“Obviously we will have to wait now until the whole process of inquiry is carried out,” he said, adding, “We have to wait and see if WCK resumes operations.”
Cyprus has played a key role in establishing a maritime aid corridor to Gaza from its port city of Larnaca.
READ ALSO: MFA’s Increment On Passport Application Charges Impractical
