Some of Israel’s closest friends expressed outrage Tuesday after seven aid workers were murdered in airstrikes in Gaza, causing one international charity to stop food delivery to needy Palestinians and raising concerns about the relief effort for the territory’s escalating humanitarian catastrophe.
The killings of the World Central Kitchen workers threatened to derail plans by the United States and other nations to build a sea corridor for supplies from Cyprus, which would help alleviate near-starvation conditions in Gaza’s north.
According to Cyprus, ships still carrying around 240 tons of supplies from the organization returned from Gaza barely a day after arrival. Other humanitarian relief organizations ceased activities in Gaza following the attacks, claiming it was no longer safe to provide assistance. Israel has only let a trickle of food and supplies into Gaza’s devastated northern areas, where experts predict starvation.
Three British citizens, Poles and Australians, a Canadian-American dual national, and a Palestinian were among those killed in Monday night’s strikes. These nations have been important supporters of Israel’s almost 6-month-old war in Gaza, and some have strongly criticized the fatalities.
Israel is already facing increased isolation as the world community condemns the Gaza attack. On the same day as the devastating airstrikes, Israel sparked more concern by reportedly hitting Iran’s embassy in Damascus, killing two Iranian generals. The administration moved to shut a foreign media channel, Qatari-owned Al Jazeera television.