04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Israel must investigate strike on aid workers ‘quickly and thoroughly’ — Germany’s Baerbock
German Foreign Minister has called for Israel to investigate a strike that killed seven international aid workers in Gaza.
“My deepest sympathies go out to the families of the seven @WCKitchen employees killed in an Israeli airstrike in #Gaza,” Baerbock said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“The Israeli government must investigate this terrible incident quickly and thoroughly,” she said.
“Humanitarian workers must be able to carry out their important work safely — around the world as well as in #Gaza,” she said.
Baerbock called for the Israeli government to implement appropriate measures to ensure that similar incidents do not happen in the future. “Incidents like this cannot be allowed to happen,” the minister declared.
Also on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said in separate comments it was concerned about an Israeli media law that could lead to the blocking of Qatar-based news network Al Jazeera.
“We take note of the new Israeli media law with concern,” a ministry spokesman told the German Press Agency (DPA). “A free and diverse press landscape is the cornerstone of a liberal democracy.”
The Israeli government has accused Al Jazeera of biased reporting on Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera has denied the allegations and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of spreading “lies and inflammatory slanders” against the network.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eMYF
Skip next section Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital ‘in ruins’ after Israeli withdrawal – WHO
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital ‘in ruins’ after Israeli withdrawal – WHO
One of the most important medical facilities in the is no longer operational following the , according to the .
“The al-Shifa hospital is now in ruins,” said WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris in Geneva on Tuesday. “Destroying al-Shifa means ripping the heart out of the health system.”
The sprawling al-Shifa complex in Gaza City offered specialized medical care across 750 beds, 12 operating theaters and 30 intensive care rooms.
Israeli troops were ordered into the complex two weeks ago amid claims that Hamas militants had regrouped in the hospital and in the tunnels below it.
Israeli Prime Minister said that more than 200 terrorists were killed and that hundreds surrendered.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eMQL
Skip next section Blinken urges ‘swift, thorough and impartial’ probe into aid worker deaths
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Blinken urges ‘swift, thorough and impartial’ probe into aid worker deaths
US Secretary of State has urged to investigate the in on Monday in a quick, comprehensive and impartial manner.
“We’ve spoken directly to the Israeli government about this particular incident,” he said at a press conference in on Tuesday. “We’ve urged a swift, a thorough and impartial investigation to understand exactly what happened.”
He added that Israel should “do more to protect innocent civilian lives, be they innocent Palestinian children or aid workers.”
Israel’s conduct of its war in Gaza with its rising civilian death toll has been causing increasing consternation in Washington, with President Joe Biden also calling for restraint and the US opting not to veto a recent .
Blinken was speaking alongside foreign minister Stephane Sejourne, who said: “Protecting humanitarian workers is a moral and legal imperative that everyone must adhere to. Nothing justifies such a tragedy.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4eMLu
Skip next section Netanyahu discharged from hospital
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Netanyahu discharged from hospital
Prime Minister has been discharged from a Jerusalem hospital after undergoing a hernia operation under general anesthetic.
“I am being discharged from the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital which became my office yesterday,” the 74-year-old said in a video message on Tuesday.
His discharge was confirmed by Netanyahu’s office.
A hernia – the precise nature of which is unknown – was discovered when Netanyahu underwent a routine health check on Saturday. He was operated on on Sunday.
Netanyahu has regularly been admitted to hospital with health problems in the past. Last summer, his heart was fitted with a pacemaker.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eMGl
Skip next section EU urges ‘restraint’ after Iran blames consulate strike on Israel
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
EU urges ‘restraint’ after Iran blames consulate strike on Israel
In other news away from Gaza, the said on Tuesday that it was “alarmed by the alleged Israeli strike” on the Iranian embassy in the , but cautioned against escalatory measures from .
“In this highly tense regional situation, it is really of utmost importance to show restraint because [a] further escalation in the region is in no one’s interests,” EU spokesman Peter Stano said.
has vowed revenge after saying that the , including Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the elite Quds Force, and his deputy, Brigadier General Mohammad Hadi Haji-Rahimi.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eLat
Skip next section Israel responsbile for strike on aid workers — Netanyahu
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Israel responsbile for strike on aid workers — Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister has admitted that .
He said that the strike was unintentional and had caused innocent deaths.
“Unfortunately, in the last day there was a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said.
“It happens in war, we will investigate it right to the end… We are in contact with the governments, and we will do everything so that this thing does not happen again.”
The seven people killed in the strike worked for the US-based World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid organization. It had been delivering food aid to Gaza by sea from Cyprus.
WCK suspended its work in Gaza after the strike. It said the aid workers killed were “from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the US and Canada, and Palestine.”
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari earlier said that he expressed his “deepest condolences” to WCK founder Jose Andres.
The UN has warned of .
https://p.dw.com/p/4eLfD
Skip next section Warsaw wants ‘explanations’ from Israel after death of Polish aid worker
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Warsaw wants ‘explanations’ from Israel after death of Polish aid worker
‘s foreign minister, , has demanded “urgent explanations” from Israel’s ambassador in after a Polish citizen was among those killed by an air strike in Gaza.
“I personally asked the Israeli ambassador Yacov Livne for urgent explanations,” Sikorsi said on social media.
He said he had offered “condolences to the family of our brave volunteer” and said Poland would open its own inquiry into the unnamed aid worker’s death.
He added: “Poland does not agree to the lack of compliance with international humanitarian law and of the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4eLYO
Skip next section UK urges ‘full, transparent explanation’ after strike kills three British citizens
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
UK urges ‘full, transparent explanation’ after strike kills three British citizens
The has demanded “a full, transparent explanation” from regarding an air strike which killed seven aid workers, including three Britons, in on Monday.
Prime Minister said he was “shocked and saddened” by the news, adding “clearly there are questions that need to be answered.”
Foreign secretary said: “We have called on Israel to immediately investigate and provide a full, transparent explanation of what happened.
“British Nationals are reported to have been killed, we are urgently working to verify this information and will provide full support to their families.
“These were people who were working to deliver life-saving aid to those who desperately need it. It is essential that humanitarian workers are protected and able to carry out their work.”
Cameron was UK prime minister from 2010 to 2016 and was last year made a Lord in order to become foreign secretary. He has grown increasingly critical of Israel’s conduct of the and has repeatedly called for more aid to be allowed in the enclave.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eLJg
Skip next section Israeli spokesman: ‘We will get to the bottom of this’
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Israeli spokesman: ‘We will get to the bottom of this’
spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has expressed condolences for the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers in on Monday and said the IDF is investigating their “tragic death.”
“The work of WCK is critical; they are on the frontlines of humanity,” he said. “We will get to the bottom of this and we will share our findings transparently.”
Hagari added that he had sent “the deepest condolences” of the Israeli army to WCK’s founder, celebrity chef Jose Anders, and expressed “sincere sorrow” to Israel’s allies who are helping with aid operations in the Gaza Strip.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eLTi
Skip next section Australian government demands ‘full accountability’ for killed citizen
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Australian government demands ‘full accountability’ for killed citizen
The aid worker killed in an alleged Israeli air strike in has been named as 44-year-old Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom from Melbourne.
In a statement, demanded “full accountability,” calling it “a tragedy that should never have occurred.”
He added: “This is someone who was volunteering overseas to provide aid for people who are suffering tremendous deprivation in Gaza. And this is just completely unacceptable.”
also expressed the government’s “overwhelming sadness” and said: “Her tireless work to improve the lives of others should never have cost Ms Frankcom her own.”
She said the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is offering support to Frankcom’s family.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eLCc
Skip next section Foreign aid workers killed in Gaza airstrike
04/02/2024April 2, 2024
Foreign aid workers killed in Gaza airstrike
The World Central Kitchen (WCK) said on Tuesday that seven of its employees have been killed in what they said was a “targeted” Israeli air strike.
The Spanish aid organization said the fatalities included three British citizens, one Australian, one Pole, one Palestinian, and a dual US/Canadian citizen.
The WCK said its staff were traveling in two armored cars that were clearly marked with the WCK logo when they were hit leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah.
WCK chief executive Erin Gore called the attack “unforgivable.”
The IDF said it is “conducting a thorough review at the highest levels.”
.
mf/rc (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
https://p.dw.com/p/4eL8Z
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