Canada has condemned an Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers in the Gaza Strip and demanded a full investigation.
World Central Kitchen said an employee with dual Canadian and American citizenship, as well as three British nationals, an Australian, a Pole and a Palestinian were delivering food arriving by sea when the attack occurred Monday evening.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the attack on aid workers was “absolutely unacceptable.”
“We need to protect humanitarian workers. My thoughts are with their families and their organizations, who have seen how these aid workers are making a real difference to the lives of Gazans at a time of horrific humanitarian challenge,” he responded.
“We are going to expect that there will be rigorous investigations to explain what happened. But above all, we need more aid in Gaza and we need a ceasefire to avoid the deaths of innocent people,” he added.
Earlier on the social network X, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said she was “horrified” by the airstrike.
1/3 I am horrified by allegations that an Israeli Defense Forces strike claimed the lives of seven employees of World Central Kitchen in Gaza yesterday, including a Canadian citizen.
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) April 2, 2024
“We condemn these strikes and demand a full investigation. Canada expects accountability for all those responsible for these killings and we will communicate this directly to the Israeli government,” she said.
“Attacks against humanitarian personnel are absolutely unacceptable. International humanitarian law must be respected,” added the Liberal minister.
On the verge of starvation
The work of World Central Kitchen was instrumental in the recent opening of a sea route that offers some hope to northern Gaza.
The United Nations says much of the region’s population is on the brink of famine, largely cut off from the rest of the territory by Israeli forces.
Mr. Andrés said he was “devastated” by the deaths of his colleagues. “The Israeli government must put an end to these indiscriminate massacres. He must stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon,” he wrote on X.
The Advisory Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations in Canada also demanded accountability.
“Yesterday’s inadvertent Israeli airstrike on a civilian aid convoy in Gaza, killing a Canadian citizen, is deeply regrettable,” the organization commented in a statement.
“The Israeli government must thoroughly investigate and hold those who made this mistake accountable. Humanitarian aid to Gaza is essential, as are Israel’s efforts to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities. We express our condolences to those who were killed,” he continued.
With information from the Associated Press