The deaths of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza has “outraged” President Joe Biden.
“They were providing food to hungry civilians in the middle of a war,” Biden said, according to the HuffPost. “They were brave and selfless.”
The seven were killed by an Israeli airstrike this week.
Biden was not happy with Israel’s part in the strike and not protecting “aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians,” per the outlet.
He wants any results of an Israeli investigation to be made public.
“Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen,” Biden said. “Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians. The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties.”
Biden said the U.S. will continue aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the HuffPost reported.
The aid workers were with World Central Kitchen, a humanitarian food assistance organization founded by renowned chef José Andrés.
The group were in a convoy of three vehicles Monday night.
Two of the vehicles had the charity’s logo on the roofs so Israeli forces would know not to strike them, HuffPost reported.
In a statement, the organization said the convoy was traveling in a deconflicted zone and the group had been coordinating its movements with the Israeli military, per the outlet.
Organizations like World Central Kitchen have ceased operations due to concerns for workers’ safety, per HuffPost.
