The bodies of six of the seven World Central Kitchen workers who died after an Israeli attack in Gaza began to be repatriated this Wednesday, April 3, across the border with Egypt. From there they will be transferred to their countries of origin. The seventh fatality of that assault is a 25-year-old Palestinian, who was buried in the last few hours, in the besieged enclave. Israel insisted that it will investigate what happened, while justifying that “there was no deliberate attack.” However, nations such as Poland and the United Kingdom, places of origin of some of those murdered, demand measures. The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, stressed that the explanations of Benjamin Netanyahu's Administration are “insufficient and unacceptable.”
The bodies of the six foreign aid workers from the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) massacred in an attack, which Israel admitted as “unintentional”, They were removed from Gaza this Wednesday, April 3.
The fatalities were transferred to Egypt, through the Rafah border crossingas confirmed by Marwan Al-Hams, director of the Abu Youssef Al-Najjar hospital.
From the neighboring country they will be taken to each of their countries of origin. The workers came from nations such as the United Kingdom, Poland, Australia and Canada. The seventh fatality of that attack was a 25-year-old Palestinian man, who was driving one of the vehicles hit by a missile and who was buried in the last hours in Gazan territory.
The NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK), founded in 2010 by Spanish chef José Andrés, is on the international agenda after the attack perpetrated by an Israeli drone that fired three times at a WCK convoy in the city of Deir al Balah, in the center of the Palestinian enclave.
The indignation of the international community grows after it became known that humanitarian workers were transported in two vehicles clearly identified with the organization's logo.
Among the foreign aid workers are three Britons, a Pole, an Australian and an American-Canadian; A Palestinian colleague was traveling with themwho led the unit, whose remains were buried in a ceremony held in Gaza.
“There was no deliberate attack”: Israel defends itself after the attack
According to a preliminary report from the Israeli Army, published this Wednesday, the attack on the WCK humanitarian convoy was not “intended to harm humanitarian workers” and was due to “misidentification.”
The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Herzi Halevi, assured that an “independent entity will investigate the incident exhaustively.”
Meanwhile, he promised that the Army “will learn from its findings, implement immediate measures, and share those findings with WCK and other relevant international organizations.”
Read alsoNetanyahu admits 'unintentional' Israeli attack that killed seven aid workers in Gaza
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured on Tuesday that his country's Armed Forces attacked by mistake to the seven people who died, while the United States and other allies demanded explanations amid widespread condemnation.
“Unfortunately, last day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
“This happens in war. We are carrying out a thorough investigation and are in contact with governments. We will do everything possible to prevent it from happening again,” he added.
Different organizations denounced that humanitarian work in Gaza is extremely complex, due to the Israeli offensive. The UN estimates that 180 of its humanitarian workers have died in the enclave so far in the war.
“It's time for the best of Israel to appear”
Chef José Andrés, creator of WCK, called on Israel to open land crossings for aid and stop killing civilians.
In an op-ed published Wednesday by the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, Andrés wrote that “the Israeli government needs to open land routes to food and medicine today. He has to stop killing civilians and humanitarian workers today,” according to the AP.
“After the worst terrorist attack in its history, it is time for the best of Israel to appear,” he said, referring to the Hamas attack on October 7 that sparked the war in Gaza. “You can't save the hostages by bombing all the buildings in Gaza. “This war cannot be won by starving an entire population.”
Meanwhile, Andrés responded to the Israeli government's comments, saying that these attacks “were not simply an unfortunate mistake in the fog of war.”
“It was a direct attack against clearly marked vehicles whose movements were known to the (Israeli army). It was also the direct result of his government's policy of reducing humanitarian aid to desperate levels,” he said.
WCK provides meals to those in need around the world, including Israel after the attack that sparked the war.
Israel continues to severely restrict access to northern Gaza, where experts say famine is imminent. Andrés' charity and other aid groups suspended operations after the deadly attack, saying it had become too dangerous to operate in Gaza.
Claims against Israel by the international community increase
After learning of the attack, the governments of the countries where the dead foreigners were from asked Israel to provide explanations for what happened. At the same time they sent their condolences to the families and WCK.
The reaction of Israel's prime minister has caused “understandable anger” and tensions in relations, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to Poland, Yacov Livne, said in a post on
Along these lines, Tusk wrote in
Panie premierze Netanjahu, panie bothadorze Liwne, zdecydowana większość Polaków okazała pełną solidarność z Izraelem po ataku Hamasu. Dzisiaj poddajecie tę solidarność naprawdę ciężkiej próbie. Tragiczny atak na wolontariuszy i wasza reakcja budzą zrozumiałą złość.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) April 3, 2024
“Today they are putting this solidarity to the test. The tragic attack on the volunteers and his (Netanyahu's) reaction spark understandable anger.”
On the other hand, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also remembered the “brave” British citizens who died, in an interview with the political editor of The Sun newspaper, Harry Cole, published this Wednesday.
“What happened is a tragedy and should not have happened, and there are questions that need answers,” said Sunat, adding that he hopes for “a thorough and transparent investigation of what happened.”
Meanwhile, he referred to the siege situation over the enclave, and said he wants to see an increase “in the amount of aid flowing into Gaza and closer work with aid agencies, so that this type of thing simply does not happen.” “.
New Israeli protests against Netanyahu's government
The protests against the Israeli Government were replicated again this Wednesday, when a group of Israelis demanded that the authorities in Parliament do more to ensure the release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
“Now, now!” they chanted to the legislators, as ushers escorted them out.
Of the more than 240 people kidnapped during the Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, which triggered the escalation of the war in Gaza, 130 remain in captivity in the Palestinian enclave, according to estimates by the Netanyahu Government. Israeli officials have stated that at least 35 of them were killed.
Qatar and Egypt have been trying to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, which could lead to the release of some hostages. However, Hamas insists on a permanent cessation of hostilities as part of any agreement, while Israel rejects any truce that leaves Hamas in control of some areas of Gaza territory.
Death toll in Gaza rises to more than 32,900
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, In the last 24 hours, at least 59 people died and 83 were injured by Israeli attacks in that Palestinian territory.
Since the start of the ongoing bombings, at least 32,975 Palestinians have died and 75,577 have been injured, according to the enclave's health authorities.
With EFE, AP and Reuters
#Bodies #WCK #workers #murdered #Gaza #repatriated #Israel #attack #deliberate