White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed on Tuesday that President Joe Biden contacted chef José Andrés following seven aid workers with the World Central Kitchen (WCK) being killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
The volunteers were delivering aid into Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is an investigation, but admitted in a video that civilians were “unintentionally” targeted. The deaths come amid calls for a ceasefire after thousands of civilian deaths.
Thousands of voters have taken to voting “uncommitted” on “uninstructed” in Democratic primaries in states like Michigan and Wisconsin over Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.
ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו בצאתו מבית החולים הדסה עין כרם:
"אני משתחרר עכשיו מבית החולים הדסה עין כרם. הוא הפך להיות המשרד שלי ביממה האחרונה, המשכנו לפעול גם מכאן. pic.twitter.com/xCTJfp5Epq
— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) April 2, 2024
During a Tuesday press conference, Jean-Pierre said Biden will “make clear” to Israel that aid workers “must be protected.”
“The president conveyed that he is grieving with the entire World Central Kitchen family,” Jean-Pierre said about Biden’s called to chef Andrés. “The president felt it was important to recognize the tremendous contribution World Center Kitchen has made to the people in Gaza and for people around the world. The president conveyed he will make clear to Israel that humanitarian aid workers must be protected.”
White House spokesperson John Kirby noted during the briefing that more than 200 aid workers have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war. Kirby called for a “swift” investigation of the strike and for the results to be made public.
“The IDF must do much more to improve deconfliction processes so that civilians and humanitarian aid workers are protected,” Kirby said.
Watch above via MSNBC.
