UN chief calls aid worker deaths in Gaza ‘unconscionable’
Children gathered around the vehicle used by aid group, World Central Kitchen, that was hit by an Israeli bomb. — AFP pic
Wednesday, 03 Apr 2024 8:02 AM MYT
NEW YORK, April 3 — UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres yesterday called the deaths of seven aid workers in an Israeli air strike in Gaza “unconscionable” and said it highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Seven staff from food aid charity World Central Kitchen, a group founded and run by Spanish-American celebrity chef Jose Andres, were killed in the besieged Palestinian territory on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that his country’s military has “unintentionally” targeted the group’s convoy. Among the dead were Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and US-Canadian employees.
The incident brings “the number of aid workers killed in this conflict to 196 — including more than 175 members of our own UN staff,” Guterres said in a speech to the UN General Assembly.
“This is unconscionable — but it is an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted,” he said.
“It demonstrates yet again the urgent need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the expansion of humanitarian aid into Gaza — as the Security Council demanded in its resolution.”
Last week, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire—thanks to an abstention from the United States, Israel’s closest ally. The measure sparked ire from Netanyahu’s government.
“The resolution must be implemented without delay,” Guterres said.
Earlier, Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the deaths had highlighted a “disregard for international humanitarian law and a disregard for the protection of humanitarian workers.” — AFP
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Wednesday, 03 Apr 2024 8:02 AM MYT
NEW YORK, April 3 — UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres yesterday called the deaths of seven aid workers in an Israeli air strike in Gaza “unconscionable” and said it highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Seven staff from food aid charity World Central Kitchen, a group founded and run by Spanish-American celebrity chef Jose Andres, were killed in the besieged Palestinian territory on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that his country’s military has “unintentionally” targeted the group’s convoy. Among the dead were Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and US-Canadian employees.
The incident brings “the number of aid workers killed in this conflict to 196 — including more than 175 members of our own UN staff,” Guterres said in a speech to the UN General Assembly.
“This is unconscionable — but it is an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted,” he said.
“It demonstrates yet again the urgent need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the expansion of humanitarian aid into Gaza — as the Security Council demanded in its resolution.”
Last week, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire—thanks to an abstention from the United States, Israel’s closest ally. The measure sparked ire from Netanyahu’s government.
“The resolution must be implemented without delay,” Guterres said.
Earlier, Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the deaths had highlighted a “disregard for international humanitarian law and a disregard for the protection of humanitarian workers.” — AFP
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A man displays British, Polish, and Australian passports next to the bodies of World Central Kitchen workers at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. — AFP pic
Wednesday, 03 Apr 2024 7:32 AM MYT
SYDNEY, April 3 — Australia’s prime minister today expressed his “anger” to Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for accountability after an Australian aid worker and six others were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he spoke to Netanyahu by phone early this morning, telling him that “Australians were outraged” by the death of Australian national Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom.
“I expressed Australia’s anger and concern at the death of Zomi Frankcom, an Australian aid worker working for World Central Kitchen, providing support for people who are suffering from tremendous deprivation,” Albanese told reporters.
World Central Kitchen said a “targeted attack” by Israeli forces had killed the seven aid workers, a group that included Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and US-Canadian employees.
Netanyahu later admitted that Israel’s military had “unintentionally” killed them in an air strike.
He said it was a “tragic case” that would be investigated “right to the end”, but stopped short of apologising for the deaths.
Albanese said there was a need for “accountability” and “transparency” as investigators started to unravel what happened.
“There is a need for a thorough investigation into what happened here and Prime Minister Netanyahu committed to that,” Albanese said following the phone call.
“I made clear again that it is Australia’s view that humanitarian assistance must reach people in Gaza unimpeded and in large quantities.”
Television clips and posts on social media painted a picture of Frankcom as an intrepid aid worker who did not shy away from the frontlines of disaster.
In September last year, Frankcom travelled to Morocco to help World Central Kitchen relief efforts in the wake of a devastating earthquake.
World Central Kitchen is one of two NGOs spearheading efforts to deliver aid to Gaza by boat from Cyprus. — AFP
Wednesday, 03 Apr 2024 7:32 AM MYT
SYDNEY, April 3 — Australia’s prime minister today expressed his “anger” to Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for accountability after an Australian aid worker and six others were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he spoke to Netanyahu by phone early this morning, telling him that “Australians were outraged” by the death of Australian national Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom.
“I expressed Australia’s anger and concern at the death of Zomi Frankcom, an Australian aid worker working for World Central Kitchen, providing support for people who are suffering from tremendous deprivation,” Albanese told reporters.
World Central Kitchen said a “targeted attack” by Israeli forces had killed the seven aid workers, a group that included Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and US-Canadian employees.
Netanyahu later admitted that Israel’s military had “unintentionally” killed them in an air strike.
He said it was a “tragic case” that would be investigated “right to the end”, but stopped short of apologising for the deaths.
Albanese said there was a need for “accountability” and “transparency” as investigators started to unravel what happened.
“There is a need for a thorough investigation into what happened here and Prime Minister Netanyahu committed to that,” Albanese said following the phone call.
“I made clear again that it is Australia’s view that humanitarian assistance must reach people in Gaza unimpeded and in large quantities.”
Television clips and posts on social media painted a picture of Frankcom as an intrepid aid worker who did not shy away from the frontlines of disaster.
In September last year, Frankcom travelled to Morocco to help World Central Kitchen relief efforts in the wake of a devastating earthquake.
World Central Kitchen is one of two NGOs spearheading efforts to deliver aid to Gaza by boat from Cyprus. — AFP
If it moves , kill it.
ReplyDeleteMfer, only now u realise how the Zionists operated in the Gaza strip!
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