Austin expressed outrage to the head of the Israeli Ministry of Defense over the attack on the NGO convoy. The Pentagon chief also stressed the need to immediately take concrete steps to protect aid workers and Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that the Israeli military attacked international aid workers from the World Central Kitchen organization. He said the attack was “unintentional.” Later, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in a conversation with the founder of the NGO, José Andres, apologized for the death of its employees in Gaza.