The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, Tal Heinrich, faced tough questions from CNN regarding a deadly airstrike in the Gaza Strip that killed seven workers from the charity World Central Kitchen. The strike occurred while the team was leaving a warehouse after unloading humanitarian food brought by sea. Among the victims were one Palestinian and six foreign citizens, including a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, as well as individuals from Australia, Britain, and Poland.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the incident, stating it was unintentional and a tragic event during warfare. He assured a thorough inquiry and cooperation with affected governments to prevent similar occurrences.
CNN’s Erin Burnett pressed Heinrich during a segment of OutFront, questioning how such a strike could be unintentional in a precision missile environment. Heinrich emphasized the need to wait for investigation results but emphasized Israel’s commitment to admitting mistakes and taking responsibility.
Burnett also pressed Heinrich on the reported death toll in Gaza, where Gaza health officials estimate over 30,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began following attacks in Israel. Israeli officials report around 1,200 deaths in attacks by Hamas.
Israeli Government Under Pressure Over Deadly Strike on World Central Kitchen Convoy (Credits: The News York Times)
Heinrich urged caution regarding Gaza’s death toll figures, citing Hamas control over the health ministry. She emphasized Israel’s efforts to eliminate Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists, claiming over 13,000 eliminations according to Israeli assessments.
Netanyahu faces international pressure over his government’s response to previous attacks, with UN officials warning of imminent starvation in Gaza. President Joe Biden and other international figures called for a temporary ceasefire to ensure aid access and the release of hostages taken by Hamas.
The airstrike against the aid convoy reignited condemnation, with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths calling the actions indefensible. Biden expressed outrage over the incident and demanded a swift investigation with public findings.
The president highlighted the broader context of aid workers’ deaths in the ongoing conflict, labeling it one of the worst in recent memory. The incident underscores the complexities and challenges of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, drawing attention to humanitarian concerns, international scrutiny, and the need for accountability amid ongoing violence.
