The US president issued his strongest criticism of Israel to date after an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers.
US President Joe Biden says he is “outraged and heartbroken” by Israel’s killing of seven aid workers in the Gaza Strip, in his strongest criticism yet of a close US ally. expressed some of the
Biden’s rebuke is the latest example of his contradictory messages on the war, as his administration doubles down on the need for arms deliveries to Israel while increasing criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
In a statement released by the White House on Tuesday night, Biden squarely accused Israel of not doing enough to protect innocent civilians in its war against Hamas.
“This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of the number of aid workers killed. “Because Israel does not adequately protect aid workers who are trying to bring desperately needed aid to civilians,” Biden said, calling the fallen aid workers “brave and selfless.” He described himself as “selfless.” .
“An incident like yesterday must never happen. Israel is also not doing enough to protect civilians. We have repeatedly called for conflict with humanitarian operations to be avoided.
Biden said the investigation Israel has promised to conduct into the incident “must be done quickly, there must be accountability, and the findings must be made public.”
“The United States remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza through all available means.”
“I will continue to urge Israel to do more to facilitate aid. And we urge an immediate ceasefire as part of the hostage deal. We currently have a team in Cairo, We are working on this.”
I am outraged and saddened by the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers, including one American, in Gaza yesterday.
Incidents like yesterday should never happen.
This is my full statement. pic.twitter.com/Nl2jq8wqTt
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 3, 2024
Seven workers from the US-based aid organization World Central Kitchen were attacked on Monday night when the convoy they were traveling in was attacked after dropping off food aid in the city of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. Died.
The attack killed a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, an Australian, a Pole, a Palestinian, and three British nationals.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Israel’s responsibility for the attack, calling it unintentional and “tragic.”
“Unfortunately, there was a recent tragic incident in which our troops unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said in a video statement on Tuesday.
“These things happen in war. We are conducting a thorough investigation and are in contact with the government. We will do everything we can to prevent it from happening again.”
Despite insisting that Israel must protect civilians, Biden continues to push for more arms deliveries to Israel, including $18 billion worth of F-15 fighter jets.
Since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, Biden has greenlit two emergency arms shipments to Israel worth $250 million, on top of the regular military aid allocation worth $3.8 billion annually.
Biden’s handling of the war has sparked a backlash from progressives, rights activists, Arab Americans and Muslims, raising concerns among Democrats as he seeks re-election in November.
Biden: “Israel is not doing enough to protect aid workers who are trying to deliver desperately needed aid to civilians.” And Israel will avoid killing and starving Palestinian civilians. sufficient measures have not been taken for this purpose. But Biden continues to arm and fund Israel anyway. #Empty word https://t.co/vBw2vKLIKY
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) April 3, 2024
Al Jazeera reported, citing two people familiar with the matter, that the White House announced on Tuesday that the planned Ramadan would be cancelled, after several Muslim Americans declined invitations to protest Biden’s support for Israel. Iftar dinner party was canceled.
Officials who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity said the cancellation came after members of the Muslim community warned leaders not to attend the event.
