An Israeli strike in Gaza resulted in the tragic deaths of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers who were delivering food to starving civilians in the besieged enclave. Among the victims was a dual US-Canadian citizen, adding to the gravity of the situation.
The incident has sparked fury and indignation inside the White House, prompting President Joe Biden to release a public statement expressing his outrage. This use of strong language is rare for Biden, underscoring the severity of the tragedy.
A senior administration official revealed that the strike has been a significant point of concern for the White House, intensifying the already high tensions between the US and Israel. The deaths of the aid workers have frustrated Biden and his top officials, pushing their level of consternation to new heights.
President Biden engaged in discussions about the workers' deaths with a small group of Muslim community leaders at the White House. Some attendees, including doctors who had witnessed the dire conditions in Gaza firsthand, expressed their distress over the situation. One participant reportedly walked out of the meeting in protest.
During the meeting, Biden acknowledged the complexity of the situation and expressed his desire to see an end to the ongoing conflict. The conversation was described as challenging and emotional by Salima Suswell, founder of the Black Muslim Leadership Council.
When asked about Biden's statement holding Israel accountable for the failure to protect civilians and aid workers, a senior adviser to the president affirmed that it accurately reflected Biden's sentiments.
