Netanyahu apologises for deaths of seven Gaza aid workers

AFP | Jerusalem                                              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted yesterday that Israel’s military had “unintentionally” killed seven aid workers with a US charity in an air strike in Gaza.

World Central Kitchen had earlier said a “targeted attack” by Israeli forces on Monday had killed the group, which included Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and US-Canadian employees.

Netanyahu said it was a “tragic case” that would be investigated “right to the end.”

“It happens in war... we will do everything so that this thing does not happen again,” Netanyahu said.

AFPTV footage showed the roof of a vehicle emblazoned with the group’s logo had been punctured, alongside the mangled wreck of other vehicles.

Israeli strikes continued throughout the territory with the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza saying 71 people were killed between Monday and yesterday.

The Israeli military on Monday ended a two-week operation around Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, which left the complex in ruins and killed hundreds.

Apologies

Israeli President Isaac Herzog apologised yesterday for the death of the aid workers in Gaza.

Herzog said he spoke to Jose Andres, the US-based celebrity chef who heads the aid group World Central Kitchen, to express his “deep sorrow and sincere apologies over the tragic loss of life”.

The charity, which has been delivering food aid to Gaza’s starving population, said its convoy was clearly marked and it had coordinated with the Israeli military to avoid any danger.

Since Hamas’s October 7 attack, Gaza has been under a near-complete siege, with the United Nations accusing Israel of preventing deliveries of humanitarian assistance to the 2.4 million Palestinians.