After delivering food aid, seven workers from the World Central Kitchen were killed by the IDF in what the humanitarian organization is calling a "targeted attack." The cars were clearly marked as WCK and had given its coordinates to the Israeli military. Most important, aside from claims of “fog of war”, the entire action took place at night. Diversions from the story include talk of target lists aided by AI. The IDF said two senior officers had been dismissed as a result of the WCK probe, but refused to comment further when asked if the officers were fired or still retained positions in the military.
The aid workers’ deaths have punctuated the heavy civilian death toll in the war. And the situation has pushed the Democrats’ divides over the war more into the open. While Biden has sought to pair rather unequivocal support for Israel with the occasional harsh words for its leadership’s prosecution of the war, members of his party are clearly losing patience with that approach.
- Progressives in Congress are circulating a draft letter calling on Biden to stop weapons transfers to Israel.
- Key Democrats are balking at the administration’s plan to sell billions of dollars worth of F-15 fighter jets to Israel.
- Former Obama administration officials are openly criticizing Biden for talking tough about Israel but not backing it up with actions.
- Perhaps most strikingly, on Thursday, top Biden ally Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) now says the president should put conditions on aid to Israel if it bucks the administration’s wishes by proceeding with a planned large-scale invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. “I’ve never said that before, “Coons noted on CNN. “I’ve never been here before.”
It’s far from a full-scale revolt, and Democrats are largely giving Biden space to operate. But the push is clearly away from his chosen policy of, as White House national security spokesman John Kirby put it even Thursday, “ironclad” support for Israel’s self-defense.
“This was a military attack that involved multiple strikes and targeted three WCK vehicles. All three vehicles were carrying civilians; they were marked as WCK vehicles; and their movements were in full compliance with Israeli authorities, who were aware of their itinerary, route, and humanitarian mission,” the group wrote. “An independent investigation is the only way to determine the truth of what happened, ensure transparency and accountability for those responsible, and prevent future attacks on humanitarian aid workers.”
The organization, which has delivered more than 43 million meals and established 68 aid kitchens in Gaza, announced earlier this week that it would be pausing operations in the region in the aftermath of the attack.
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