On the same day that an Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of seven World Central Kitchen employees in Gaza, the Biden administration moved forward with the approval of a significant arms package to Israel, a decision that has garnered international attention and criticism.
According to multiple officials, the U.S. State Department greenlit the transfer of over 1,000 MK82 500-pound bombs, more than 1,000 small-diameter bombs, and fuses for MK80 bombs. This transfer is part of a larger, multi-year foreign military sale approved by Congress well before the onset of the latest hostilities between Israel and Hamas that erupted in October.
The timing of the approval, reported by both The Washington Post and CNN, fell on the day of a deadly incident where Israeli airstrikes struck a convoy of the charity group World Central Kitchen (WCK), killing seven aid workers and stirring a global outcry. Among the deceased was a U.S.-Canadian dual citizen, and the tragedy prompted President Joe Biden to express his “outrage and heartbreak,” calling the aid workers “brave and selfless.”
However, the continued flow of weapons to Israel in the wake of the strike has cast a shadow over the Biden administration’s commitments and raised questions about the balance of U.S. foreign policy interests. The State Department has not halted the arms transfer, despite having the authority to suspend an arms package before its delivery, which in this case is not anticipated until 2025 or later.
Officials noted that the approved weapons, including small-diameter bombs, are “certainly comparable” to the munitions that struck the aid truck, according to Josh Paul, a former State Department arms expert. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the strikes were carried out by Israel but described the incident as “unintentional.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Biden both emphasized the need to protect aid workers and Palestinian civilians. Biden, in a direct rebuke of Israel, stated, “Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen.” On the other side of the political spectrum, Republicans in Congress, including former president Donald Trump, have been broadly supportive of weapons transfers to Israel.
The recent events have prompted calls from humanitarian groups, including World Central Kitchen, for an independent third-party investigation into the attacks. José Andrés, the celebrity chef and founder of World Central Kitchen, has called for accountability, alleging that the aid workers were systematically targeted.
The Israeli military has embarked on an investigation into the incident, promising transparency and public disclosure of the results. With over 33,000 Palestinians reported killed since the beginning of the conflict, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Relevant articles:
– U.S. approved more bombs to Israel on day of World Central Kitchen strikes
– US reportedly approved more bombs for Israel on day of aid convoy strike; pressure grows on Biden to act – live, The Guardian US, Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:06:10 GMT
– US recently authorized more bombs for Israel, WDJT, Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:22:00 GMT
– Thursday briefing: World Central Kitchen strikes; Taiwan earthquake; snow forecast; George Carlin AI comedy special; and more, The Washington Post, Thu, 04 Apr 2024 13:30:00 GMT