US Urges Israel to Conduct Swift Investigation into Attack on Aid Workers

The United States is calling for a swift investigation into the tragic attack that killed seven aid workers from celebrity chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen charity in Gaza. The State Department emphasized the need for Israel to implement better deconfliction and coordination measures to protect humanitarian workers and civilians on the ground.

Spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed deep concern over the incident, stating, “It doesn’t really matter how they made the mistake. At the end of the day, you have seven dead aid workers who were there trying to deliver humanitarian assistance. So whatever the reason was that led to this tragedy, whatever the mistake that happened inside the IDF, it’s unacceptable, and they need to do better.”

The aid workers were killed in a convoy attack shortly after overseeing the unloading of 100 tons of food brought to Gaza by sea. Israel’s military has expressed “severe sorrow” over the incident, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it unintentional. An independent expert body will investigate the deaths.

Jose Andres, the founder of the charity, revealed that the Israeli attack targeted the aid workers “systematically, car by car,” despite clear communication with the Israeli military about their movements.

Despite the tragic incident, the U.S. remains committed to preparing a floating pier to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza by sea. The ongoing conflict in the region has led to critical food shortages among Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians, with some areas facing famine levels, according to the United Nations.