DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military has expressed “sincere sorrow” over the deaths of seven aid workers killed in a strike on Gaza while stopping short of accepting responsibility.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip The Israeli military has expressed “sincere sorrow” over the deaths of seven aid workers killed in a strike on Gaza while stopping short of accepting responsibility.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top military spokesman, said Tuesday that officials are reviewing the incident at the highest levels. He says an independent investigation will be launched that “will help us reduce the risk of such an event from occurring again.”
The strike hit an aid convoy, killing six international workers from the World Central Kitchen and their Palestinian driver. They were delivering desperately needed food aid that had been brought in by sea.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip An apparent Israeli airstrike killed six international aid workers with the World Central Kitchen and their Palestinian driver, the charity said Tuesday, in a potentially major setback to efforts to deliver aid by sea to Gaza, where Israel’s offensive against Hamas has pushed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the brink of starvation.
The food charity, founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, said it was immediately suspending operations in the region.
Footage showed the bodies, several wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo, at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah. Those killed include three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national and an American-Canadian dual citizen, according to hospital records.
The source of fire late Monday could not be independently confirmed. The Israeli military said it was conducting a review “to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident.”
The charity said the team was traveling in a three-car convoy that included two armored vehicles.
