The United States has called for an impartial investigation into the Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip that killed seven employees of US-based charity World Central Kitchen, saying Israel must do more to protect civilians.
The United States is demanding "a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation to find out exactly what happened," U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters in Paris alongside French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné.
"What we have suggested to the Israelis is to do more to protect the lives of innocent civilians, whether they are innocent Palestinian children or aid workers."
"We shouldn't have a situation where people who are just trying to help their fellow human beings are at tremendous risk," Blinken said, adding that aid workers "must be protected."
"The protection of aid workers is a moral and legal imperative to which everyone must adhere," Ségurne said, adding that France "strongly condemns" Israel's strike.
"Nothing justifies such a tragedy."Blinken said the measures taken so far by Israel to facilitate the distribution of aid in Gaza were "simply insufficient."
"They are not enough to meet the needs of Gaza's children ... who remain in a horrific crossfire, the work of Hamas."
"We are looking at this very carefully to ensure that Israel takes the necessary steps," Blinken said.
Pointing to the killing of aid workers, he called for better coordination between Israeli authorities and aid groups on the ground.
"Coordination is an ongoing problem," he said. /BGNES
