Israeli airstrike that killed aid workers in Gaza Strip threatens food deliveries
Israeli airstrikes on aid workers delivering food in Gaza killed at least seven people — including a US-Canada dual citizen and citizens of Australia, Poland and the United Kingdom. It’s the latest Israeli military action to hit humanitarian efforts in the besieged Palestinian territory.
World Central Kitchen, the charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, said early Tuesday it was immediately pausing operations in the region, delivering a blow to the recently opened sea route for food aid. Ships carrying food sailed away from Gaza after arriving just a day earlier.
Israel says the strikes were an accident and that officials are investigating. The UN says at least 180 humanitarian workers have been killed in the war so far.
The US, which has provided key military and diplomatic support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, had hoped the sea route would allow more food to enter the territory. In northern Gaza, the United Nations says much of the population is on the brink of starvation. South Africa has accused Israel of acts of genocide in its war in Gaza and filed a case at the United Nations’ highest court — charges Israel strongly denies.
After nearly six months, Israel’s war in Gaza has killed nearly 33,000 Palestinians, the territory’s Health Ministry says. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. The war began on October 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.
— With famine looming, aid group halts food delivery in Gaza after Israeli strike kills 7 workers
— Family and friends recall brave’ and selfless’ aid workers killed in Israeli airstrikes
— Tehran vows response after strike blamed on Israel destroyed Iran’s Consulate in Syria and killed 12
— Palestinians seek full UN membership again, but US is almost certain to block it for a second time
— Forced from their Gaza home by Israeli troops, a family makes a terrifying escape through a war zone.
— World Central Kitchen is saving lives with food but paying a price in blood
Israel police said an Arab resident from northern Israel carried out a car-ramming attack, wounding four police officers and attempting to stab security forces at a checkpoint before he was killed by police.
The attack, carried out by a 26-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel from the Arab town of Tira, occurred around 2 am Wednesday.
The police were lightly wounded and evacuated for medical treatment.
Palestinian citizens make up around 20 per cent of Israel’s population. They have citizenship, including the right to vote, but face widespread discrimination. They have close family ties to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza and largely support the Palestinian cause, leading some Israelis to view them with suspicion.
The attacks came amid heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions during the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan.
