President Biden is scheduled to hold discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday amidst mounting pressure on the Israeli leader over the deaths of international aid workers in Gaza, the failure to reach a ceasefire deal to free hostages, and the planned offensive in Rafah, a southern Gaza city where over a million Palestinians are seeking shelter. World Central Kitchen has called for an independent inquiry into the attacks on its vehicles, which resulted in the deaths of seven staff members earlier this week.
Israel has apologized for the incident, citing a misidentification of the vehicles carrying aid workers as hostile targets. The killings have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Israeli military's mechanisms for protecting humanitarian workers.
In response, the Israeli military has announced changes in its coordination with aid groups on the ground.
President Biden has strongly condemned the attacks on World Central Kitchen and urged Israel to swiftly complete its investigation.
While he has criticized Israel for not doing enough to ensure the safety of civilians in Gaza, including humanitarian workers, he has indicated that the U.S. will continue its support for Israel's defense against Hamas.
Israeli authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident. José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, has called for a broader probe involving governments of several countries to determine if the attacks violated international law.
The deaths of the aid workers, including nationals from Poland, Australia, the U.S.-Canada, and three British security advisors, have been condemned by Western leaders.
These deaths, along with a Palestinian victim, mark the first known fatalities of foreign aid workers in Gaza since the conflict began. Western leaders have expressed frustration with Israel's handling of civilian casualties in its conflict with Hamas.
In a separate development, Israel is preparing for a potential response from Iran following the assassination of senior Iranian military officials in Damascus.
Israel has announced the mobilization of reservists to bolster its air defenses and has paused leave for combat soldiers.
In their call, President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu are expected to discuss the attacks on the World Central Kitchen convoy and the broader situation in Gaza.
The incident has raised questions about Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, particularly regarding the planned offensive in Rafah.
The U.S. and its allies warn that an offensive in Rafah could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than half the population is seeking refuge.
World Central Kitchen and other aid groups operating in Gaza are seeking security guarantees from all parties to the conflict.
Despite the incident, support for Israel's military remains high domestically. However, Netanyahu is facing political pressure at home over his handling of the war and failure to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.
His approval ratings have dropped, and he is facing calls for early elections.
In conclusion, the situation in Gaza remains tense, with international actors calling for accountability and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.