Killing of 5 Foreign Aid Workers from the World Central Kitchen

[cherryjamontoast]

I've just seen on social media graphic videos of 5 dead aid workers from Australia, Austrian and British. The WCK are the people responsible for the ships coming into Gaza at the Jetty to distribute food. This was the second ship that departed from Cyprus a few days ago. Once arriving at the jetty they had to distribute the food. They were targeted in an armoured vehicle in Deir el Balah by the IDF. Its now being pick up by the press.Very sad.

Israel has offered their 'deepest condolences'

Will any of the countries of these aid workers do anything now? Or will they just all carry on like normal? It's certainly not the first time that aid workers have been targeted

Israel : let’s get rid of urnwa they’re terrorists

ok let’s work with wkc to deliver the aid

Israel : kills aid workers

the story repeats time after time. And until our governments stop selling them weapons the story will be repeated time after time

They may not have been targetting them deliberately but it seems that anyone in that area is fair game to The Israelis now, even their own people when they are released from being hostages and foreign aid workers.
The message seems to be that if people are in Gaza they are to be killed, whoever they are

Sky news have a bit of a lengthy piece on it and why these attacks are hindering aid into Gaza. This part were my thoughts exactly

Israel has not admitted responsibility for last night's attacks, however in past incidences when they've been confident of their innocence, robust and angry denials have been quick to come.
Instead they have announced a "thorough review at the highest levels" – whether that will be enough to reassure foreign governments and humanitarian organisations, I'm not sure.

A. The driver was a Hamas member
B. It was Hamas who killed them

choose an answer as you please. By IDF

Hope that this doesn't spread further but can understand if it does

Second charity providing relief to Palestinians pausing Gaza operations

Another US-based charity, American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), which helps provide emergency relief for Palestinians, has told BBC News that it is also freezing its operations in Gaza, following on from the World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) announcement earlier.

“Anera and WCK are pausing our Gaza operations. Together, Anera and WCK provide
some 2 million meals a week in Gaza,” Sean Carroll, the charity’s CEO, said.

Also this from the times of Israel also indicates it was the IDF

We have been reviewing the incident at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of what happened and how it happened,” he says.
Hagari says the IDF’s General Staff Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism — an independent military body responsible for investigating unusual incidents amid the war — will probe what he called a “serious incident.”
“This will help us reduce the risk of such an event from occurring again,” he says.

Gosh imagine the damage control to now explain to the allied countries why they killed their citizens who were in a marked vehicle that had shared their coordinates with the IDF. And who were there as humanitarian workers.
Intentional murder to deter further aid workers or then a generous interpretation would be absolute incompetence at the highest levels.

Ofcourse this devastating incident now also brings into question once again on the huge death toll in Gaza and how many thousands more have died in the same circumstances.

Because depending on where you sit on the ideological divide it was either deliberate or accidental.

You can make your own judgement.

The 'Hamas roadside explosive not one of our missiles' manoeuvre was tried before early in the 'evacuation' to the south when 70+ women and children travelling on a flat-bed truck were killed

Amnesty investigated - interviewing many eye-witnesses and confirmed the IDF missile attack and 'double tap' when the paramedics arrived

Can't see a statement from the US - have I missed it

Know it's only 6am EST but Blinken is in Europe - WCF is a US based NGO and an American-Canadian citizen has been killed

Hi @Desertrose2023
I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I can’t see either Trump (who Israel may prefer) or Biden being a strong advocate for Palestinians. Biden does talk about a 2 SS, but does not appear to provide meaningful influence on Israel?
However - in the future, I think influence of Israel on US and wider western politics will reduce. Because of younger generations and social media allowing vivid images to come out of war zones.
Dont want to derail this important thread - maybe worth a thread of its own - have you heard of Reject AIPAC? Can you imagine a time when accepting money from AIPAC may be seen as anti-progressive for Democratic voters?

There are reports though unverified that up to three Britons have been killed in the latest strike

The Associated Press cites hospital records as saying the dead include three Britons, an Australian, a Pole and an American-Canadian dual citizen.

« Intentional murder to deter further aid workers or then a generous interpretation would be absolute incompetence at the highest levels. »

Neither sound good for the IDF!

If they have this disregard for safety of citizens of allies - no wonder innocent Gazans never stood a chance.

You’re right I do think it’s going to get worse before it gets better (I shudder to think about what the Trump #2 years will bring us), but I truly believe it’s the beginning of the end. It will be a long road ahead but the narrative about Israel has finally changed and it’s a watershed moment. People are seeing it for what it is, the apartheid, the occupation, the land grabs, the brutality, the oppression, the dehumanization. Israel has been able to get away with all of this for so long. Israel is still getting away with it because those in power haven’t caught up to the sentiment on the street but eventually politicians won’t be able to ignore it. All the work happening globally, the boycotting, the lawsuits, the student activism. The US is the key and will make the difference. Did anyone see Ramy Malik on SNL ? Who would have thought you’d hear Free the people of Palestine! on such a historic show accompanied by such applause?

I haven’t heard of reject aipac (will look it up) but I think the average American taxpayer is much more switched on now to where their money is going and the interference by a foreign government in their democracy. This can only be a good thing. Where would Israel be without the billions it receives in aid and funding ?

I think two cars were targeted so probably that’s why the number has increased?

will rishi condemn it ? Will he stop selling weapons to Israel that could kill British citizens?

It's not at all clear is it - there are photos online of a logo'd vehicle with a hole in the roof but also of another totally destroyed vehicle

This kicked off after the killings and abductions in October. Israel just has to accept that Hamas has the right to kill and abduct people or write a letter of protest to the Times.

Seriously there is no answer, the middle east govts want an end to Israel and unless we help get rid of Israel those will simply continue. Everyone wants something to be done, would you enlist and fight Israel or are you simply posting on a board.

Someone should do something (just not me).

Hopefully this is what will make the tide start to turn.

This didn’t kick off in October, it’s been happening for decades.

I’m not really sure I understand the rest of your post.

And even suggestions of all 3 vehicles in the convoy having been attacked - which would be harder to explain as an accident??

The bodies have been transferred to a hospital in Rafah in preparation for being re-patriated via Egypt except for the Palestinian man who is being returned to his family for burial

I just read on the BBC that this is the third time aid convoys have been hit by Israeli forces.

Netanyahu admits IDF culpability

Netanyahu on aid worker deaths: 'This happens in wartime'

Israel’s prime minister has spoken about the deaths of seven humanitarian aid workers killed in Gaza while trying to deliver aid to the starving population there, saying “this happens in wartime.”
In a video statement Benjamin Netanyahu said:
This happens in wartime. We are thoroughly looking into it, are in contact with the governments ,and will do everything to ensure it does not happen again.

Netanyahu described it as “a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip.”

Guardian

this is all on Israel. Nothing to do with what happened in October. Even in wars there are rules that need to follow, even Israel. And Israel , nobody else, has ignored those rules and killed aid workers.