The bodies of six foreign aid workers killed in Israeli airstrikes were returned to their home countries, sparking renewed criticism of Israel’s conduct in the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The workers, who were distributing food in the besieged enclave, were killed in an attack on their convoy. Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, attributed the attack to a “misidentification” in complex war conditions, promising a thorough investigation.
World Central Kitchen, the charity the aid workers were affiliated with, coordinated their movements with the Israeli military and marked their vehicles with the organization’s logo. Despite this, the convoy was targeted in the airstrikes, leading to calls for Israel to open land routes for food and medicine and to stop killing civilians and aid workers. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticized Israel’s explanation as “absolutely unacceptable and insufficient,” urging a more detailed clarification of the incident.
The Israeli military has a history of striking aid vehicles and humanitarian facilities, often justifying the attacks by claiming the presence of suspected militants. The growing number of humanitarian workers killed in the conflict has drawn international condemnation and raised concerns about the indiscriminate nature of the bombardment. Initial reports suggested that the convoy carrying aid workers was targeted after the military observed suspected militants nearby, but questions remain about the decision-making process.
The deadly airstrikes on the aid workers have further isolated Israel on the international stage, with criticism mounting over its conduct in the Gaza conflict. The incident comes at a time when the U.S. administration is expressing frustration with Israel’s prosecution of the war. President Joe Biden issued a statement expressing outrage over the strikes and emphasizing the need to protect aid workers. The strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, attributed to Israel, has also raised fears of a wider conflict involving Iran and its allies in the region.
Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel for the airstrike in Damascus, raising concerns about escalating tensions in the region. The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on the Palestinian population in Gaza, with thousands killed and many more facing dire conditions. Efforts to establish a maritime corridor for aid delivery have been jeopardized by the attack on the aid workers, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. As world leaders condemn the violence, calls for a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict continue to grow.
