Seven World Central kitchen support workers die in Gaza strike.Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israeli military ‘unintentionally attacked innocent people’

JERUSALEM – An Israeli military commander said an Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers in the Gaza Strip was the result of a “misidentification” under complex circumstances.

Lieutenant General Helj Halevi announced the results of the preliminary investigation early Wednesday morning, expressing regret over the killing and calling the incident a “grave mistake.”

“It was a mistake that followed a misidentification, at night during a war, under very complex circumstances. Something like this should not have happened,” he said. He did not provide further details.

He said an independent body would conduct a “thorough investigation” and complete it within days.

Josh Phelps, former relief operations director at World Central Kitchen, has mourned the loss of his former colleague Lalzaumi (Zomi) Francom, who was killed in the Gaza bombing.

“The problem is that management didn’t stop her from going there,” Phelps said, adding, “As we all grieve and grieve, hopefully the organization will take a step back and do its own thing.” I hope they will reconsider what they are doing,” he added. Just with people who want to bring pride to the world and the organization and serve others. ”

Biden said in a statement tonight that he is “outraged and heartbroken” by the death of a World Central Kitchen worker in the Gaza Strip, saying not enough is being done to protect civilians and aid workers. blamed Israel.

This statement was one of the harshest criticisms of Israel since the war began.

“This is the main reason why it’s been so difficult to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza,” Biden said. This is because we have not taken sufficient measures.” “An incident like yesterday should never happen. Israel is also not doing enough to protect civilians.

“The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to avoid conflict between military and humanitarian operations against Hamas to avoid civilian casualties,” it added.

Biden also said the White House “continues to pressure Israel to do more” to facilitate humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

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Active duty airmen began a hunger strike in front of the White House late Monday night in protest of starving Palestinians in Gaza.

Lawrence David Hebert Jr. is on leave from his duty station in Rota, Spain, where he serves as an integrated avionics journeyman, the Air Force said.

Ebert told military.com that he was inspired by the airman who self-immolated in front of the Israeli embassy this year and will limit his intake to water and juice as much as physically possible.

According to his military record, he has been in the Air Force since September 4, 2018, with the rank of Senior Airman (E4). He has received numerous awards and decorations, including the Good Conduct Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

An Air Force spokesman said Herbert’s actions were under review.

World Central Kitchen today identified seven aid workers killed in an Israeli airstrike.

They were relief worker Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, a 25-year-old Palestinian. Lalzaumi (Zomi) Francome, 43 years old Australian. Damian Sobol, 35 years old from Poland. Jacob Flickinger is a 33-year-old dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

Security team members John Chapman, 57, James (Jim) Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, all from the United Kingdom, also died, the agency said.

CEO Erin Gore said, “These are the heroes of the World Central Kitchen. These seven beautiful souls lost their lives in an Israeli Defense Force strike while returning from a full day’s work.” Ta.

“Their smiles, laughter and voices are forever etched in our memories, and there are countless memories of them giving their best selves to the world. We are reeling from the loss. It is a loss of the world.”

Saif Issam Abu Taha, 27, had been working as a driver and translator at World Central Kitchen since the beginning of this year, relatives said.

His brothers described him as a dedicated young man eager to help his fellow Palestinians.

He was also a successful businessman who traded with Ukraine, Egypt, China and other countries, according to his brother Abdul Razak Abu Taha.

His work made him well known on the Israeli side and helped him obtain coordination and approval to help the World Central Kitchen team unload the ship, the brothers said. Told.

Saif and other workers were excited to unload much-needed food, his brother said. The last time he and Saif spoke, they had finished work and Saif was heading home.

When Abdul Razak Abu Taha heard about the airstrike, he called Saif to check on his safety.

After multiple attempts, an unknown man answered Saif’s phone and said, “We found this phone about 200 meters from the car. Everyone inside was killed.”

World Central Kitchen told NBC News it believes an Israeli sniper opened fire on one of its vehicles two days before the Israeli airstrike, killing seven aid workers.

The bullet damaged the side mirror, but no one was injured. World Central Kitchen said it had reported the incident to the Israeli military.

NBC News has reached out to the Israeli military for comment. News of the shooting incident was first reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Yesterday’s airstrike on the World Central Kitchen convoy in the Gaza Strip raised questions about Israel’s military practices in its war with Hamas.

Israeli authorities have acknowledged the bombing, but have provided few details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that his army had “unintentionally attacked innocent people.”

“This is what happens in wars. We are checking every last detail and are in contact with governments. We will do everything we can to make sure this never happens again,” he said.

NBC News used cross-references between images posted by the International Photographic Agency and satellite imagery to locate three damaged aid vehicles abandoned along a 2.55-mile stretch of the Gaza Strip coastal road.

WCK said in a statement that the transport vehicle consisted of three vehicles, two of which were armored and one with softbacks. The vehicle was traveling south on Al Rashid Road near the WCK’s headquarters in the Palestinian city of Deir Al Bala in the central Gaza Strip.

The coastal road was designated as accessible for humanitarian relief by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in March.

The northernmost vehicle was located just south of the port of Deir Al Bala and appears to have been damaged by the fire. The hood, trunk, and doors are open, and burn marks can be seen on the ground. Photos showed fire damage inside the car, with burnt World Central Kitchen stickers scattered across the floor and seats.

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World Central Kitchen responds to catastrophes.

The international relief organization, which provides food to both victims and first responders of humanitarian disasters around the world, announced yesterday that seven aid workers working in the Gaza Strip were killed in an Israeli airstrike. And so, he was unwillingly thrust into the tragic spotlight.

The victims included dual U.S. and Canadian citizens, team members from Poland, Britain and Australia, and a Palestinian driver.

Spanish-American celebrity chef and WCK founder José Andres called the victims “angels” and called on the Israeli government to “stop this indiscriminate killing.”

Following the deadly attack, WCK has ceased operations of the 68 “community kitchens” it had operated in Gaza over the past six months. The organization says it has provided more than 43 million meals to Palestinians during that time.

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The head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, one of Gaza’s aid groups, said today that operations in the enclave will not stop.

After yesterday’s strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, the organization’s executive director, Jan Egeland, told NBC News in a phone interview that the organization still has 60 workers on the ground in Gaza. He said he remains in the

Monday’s strike was “shocking,” Egeland said. This was especially true because aid workers were reporting their movements to the Israel Defense Forces. That could seriously undermine future efforts to bring aid to Gaza, he said.

“There are already too few organizations that can actually demonstrate their capabilities on the ground,” Egeland said. “This is another blow to the lifeline for two million defenseless and starving civilians.”