A war machine out of control

4/3/24
 
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from The Washington Post,
4/3/24:

Several humanitarian groups said Tuesday that they would suspend their operations in Gaza after seven World Central Kitchen workers were killed in an Israeli strike, threatening already precarious deliveries to the aid-starved enclave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel’s military struck civilians in the Gaza Strip in a “tragic incident” after the aid organization World Central Kitchen said seven of its workers were killed while distributing food.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel carried out the strike Monday but said it was “unintentional.” He vowed the military would carry out a “transparent” investigation and make the results public.

President Biden called the incident a “tragedy” in a statement Tuesday. “Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen,” he said. “Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians.”

How Israeli strikes on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza unfolded.

Speaking earlier that day, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, appearing with his French counterpart in Paris, called on Israel to carry out a “swift, a thorough and impartial” inquiry. He also defended ongoing U.S. arms deliveries to Israel, saying each transfer was approved by Congress in accordance with the law.

Israel Keeps Attacking Aid Workers as Gaza Faces Famine. Israel has admitted it killed seven volunteers with World Central Kitchen on Monday after repeatedly bombing their clearly marked vehicle convoy, leading the humanitarian relief group to suspend its operations in Gaza and further restricting distribution of badly needed food amid a growing famine in the territory. Other aid groups have followed suit, citing the lack of safety. This comes after Israel had earlier banned UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, from bringing aid into northern Gaza, where the need is greatest.

Israel’s international backers need to rein in “a war machine out of control” that is causing so much death and destruction. “If you have a conflict where there is a world record in killing protected categories of personnel, then the law is broken to pieces. There’s no other way to see it.” He also calls for an end to international arms sales to Israel and resumed funding and support for UNRWA.

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