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The United States called on Israel to protect aid workers and civilians in Gaza after it killed 7 foreign employees of the World Central Kitchen organization, while the relief organization demanded an independent investigation into the attack.

The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) said that Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed, during a call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant yesterday evening, the need to take immediate, concrete steps to protect relief workers and civilians in Gaza after the repeated failure of coordination with foreign relief organizations.

The Pentagon added in a statement that Austin urged Gallant to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation into the attack that killed members of the World Kitchen organization, publish the results publicly, and hold those responsible accountable.

According to the statement, Austin stressed the need to see a rapid increase in the flow of aid through all crossings in the coming days, especially for communities at risk of famine in northern Gaza. He also noted that this tragedy reinforced expressed concern about a possible Israeli military operation in Rafah.

The seven foreign employees, including two Britons, an American, an Australian, and a Canadian, were killed in an Israeli raid on two cars they were traveling in on Al-Rashid Street in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

The World Cuisine Organization confirmed that targeting the convoy was deliberate, which was also concluded by an Al Jazeera investigation.

The Israeli army acknowledged its responsibility for the killing of aid workers in Gaza as a result of a raid carried out by its aircraft, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the army hit the relief convoy "unintentionally."

Biden and Netanyahu

Meanwhile, CNN quoted a US official as saying that President Joe Biden is largely angry and frustrated about the killing of aid workers in Gaza.

The US official added that Biden is ready to explain his point of view to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their expected phone call on Thursday.

He continued that President Joe Biden intends to demand a change in the Israeli army's method of transmitting information regarding the concentration of relief workers in Gaza during his phone call with Netanyahu.

The American official pointed out that the Israeli army team that attacked the relief convoy either did not receive information about it or ignored it, and that this was considered a problem in both cases.

For his part, Strategic Communications Coordinator at the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said that Washington expects the Israeli investigation to be detailed, comprehensive and independent, and that there are no American plans to conduct an independent investigation.

Also in international positions, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today that the killing of an Australian aid worker in Gaza is unacceptable, just like the killing of every innocent person in this conflict, adding that his country called on the Israeli government to conduct a transparent investigation and hold those responsible for the attack fully accountable.

For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter) that the killing of one of his citizens by an Israeli bombing while delivering food to civilians in Gaza is completely unacceptable, adding that Israel is obligated to guarantee the safety of relief workers, and that the world deserves an explanation regarding what happened. .

Israeli Channel 13 reported that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday that London is considering declaring Israel a state violating international law following its killing of aid workers in Gaza.

The founder of the World Kitchen Organization says that targeting employees was systematic by bombing one car after another pic.twitter.com/deU2AdsXy4

- Al Jazeera Egypt (@AJA_Egypt) April 4, 2024

Independent investigation

Meanwhile, the World Central Kitchen organization today called for an independent investigation into the Israeli bombing that killed 7 of its members in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip.

The organization said in a statement that the Israeli attack targeted 3 vehicles carrying civilians among its employees, and that its action was coordinated with the Israeli army.

She added that the Israeli authorities were aware of the crew's itinerary, route and humanitarian mission.

The organization also said it had asked the governments of Australia, Canada, the United States, Poland and the United Kingdom to join it in demanding an independent third-party investigation into these attacks.

She stressed that conducting an independent investigation is the only way to determine the truth of what happened, ensure transparency, hold those responsible accountable, and prevent future attacks on humanitarian relief workers.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies