WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he was “outraged” after seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers were killed in Gaza, delivering his strongest criticism of Israel since the start of its war with Hamas.
“This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed,” Biden said in a statement. “This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult — because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians.
“Israel has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into why the aid workers’ vehicles were hit by airstrikes. That investigation must be swift, it must bring accountability, and its findings must be made public,” he added.
Biden’s comments come just one day after an Israeli killed seven humanitarian workers from the relief organization World Central Kitchen. As of this writing, over 200 aid workers have been killed in the war since it began on Oct. 7.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret over the strike but added that civilian deaths “are common” in war.
“This happens in war. We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
Biden’s handling of the war has been the subject of criticism from progressive Democrats, and America’s large Arab American population.
Over 32,900 people have died in Gaza since the war began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Biden has been more outspoken of Netanyahu’s handling of the Israeli war with Hamas in recent weeks.
