Seven support employees with World Central Kitchen have been killed when their convoy got here below fireplace in a single day between Monday and Tuesday, based on the help group and Palestinian well being officers in Gaza.
The catastrophe reduction group, based by the Spanish chef José Andrés, mentioned members of its employees have been hit in an Israeli strike. The Israeli military mentioned the episode was being investigated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel acknowledged on Tuesday a “tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting harmless individuals”
Right here’s what we all know.
The convoy of three autos had simply left a meals warehouse.
The World Central Kitchen employees members have been leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, a metropolis within the central Gaza Strip, when their convoy, two armored vehicles and a 3rd automobile got here below fireplace, the group mentioned in an announcement. The exact time of the episode has not been decided, nevertheless it was late Monday evening or simply after midnight on Tuesday.
The Israeli army had been knowledgeable of support employees’ actions, the charity mentioned. Help employees had simply unloaded greater than 100 tons of meals dropped at Gaza by sea on the warehouse, based on the group.
Video footage filmed by a Palestinian journalist and verified by The New York Occasions reveals no less than two destroyed white autos on the scene. One of many vehicles was left with a gaping gap in its roof, which was clearly marked with the World Central Kitchen emblem. Papers bearing the WCK emblem is also seen contained in the charred inside of the second automobile.
It remained unclear on Tuesday morning what kind of munition struck the vehicles and whether or not these explosives have been launched from the bottom, from a warplane or from a drone.
Six international nationals and a Palestinian have been killed.
The strike’s victims included a Palestinian and 6 international nationals, together with individuals from Australia, Poland, Britain, the USA and Canada.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia recognized one of many victims as Zomi Frankcom, an Australian citizen and a senior supervisor at World Central Kitchen.
Palestinian medics retrieved the our bodies of the seven victims earlier than speeding them to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ hospital in Deir al-Balah, based on the Palestine Pink Crescent Society. They have been subsequently taken south and can in the end be transported out of the enclave into Egypt, the Pink Crescent mentioned in an announcement.
The prime minister acknowledges Israeli forces ‘unintentionally harming harmless individuals’ within the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesman of the Israeli military, mentioned the circumstances behind the strike have been nonetheless being investigated “on the highest ranges.” He mentioned the investigation had been referred to the Truth Discovering and Evaluation Mechanism, a army physique tasked with investigating accusations of probing the circumstances behind battlefield incidents.
“We will probably be opening a probe to look at this critical incident additional,” he mentioned. “It will assist us scale back the danger of such an occasion from occurring once more.”
The Israeli army mentioned the mechanism was an “unbiased, skilled, and knowledgeable physique.” Human rights teams have typically been essential of the Israeli army’s capability to transparently examine itself, charging that probes are sometimes lengthy and barely result in indictments.
In a video assertion on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel referred to a “tragic case of our forces unintentionally harming harmless individuals within the Gaza Strip.” Mr. Netanyahu didn’t particularly title World Central Kitchen in his remarks.
However an Israeli official acquainted with the matter, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of the strike remains to be below investigation, clarified that the prime minister was referencing the strike.
“It occurs in conflict, we’re totally analyzing this, we’re involved with the governments, and we’ll do every little thing in order that this factor doesn’t occur once more,” mentioned Mr. Netanyahu.
Admiral Hagari mentioned he had spoken to Mr. Andrés to precise his condolences on behalf of the Israeli army, however steered away from formally claiming accountability for the strike that killed the help employees.
Vivian Yee and Nader Ibrahim contributed reporting to this text. Gabby Sobelman and Rawan Sheikh Ahmad offered translation.
