The recent killing of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen in Gaza has sparked global outrage and renewed pressure on Israel to open new points of entry for humanitarian aid. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have expressed rare contrition about the killings, leading the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to remove senior officers from their posts after a probe found violations of protocol in targeting the aid convoy.
The United Nations has reported a total of 224 humanitarian aid workers killed since the start of the war, with incidents revealing systemic failings in the IDF’s approach to protecting humanitarian workers in Gaza. This has resulted in mounting attacks on humanitarian agencies, ultimately leading to curtailed aid deliveries to Gaza’s starving population. Some organizations have even halted aid deliveries in response to the violence.
These events underscore a disturbing pattern of attacks on aid workers and humanitarian infrastructure, with previous incidents involving World Central Kitchen and other organizations. Aid agencies typically rely on a process called deconfliction to prevent unintentional attacks, but this system has proven ineffective in Gaza, resulting in repeated attacks on humanitarian workers.
International organizations such as MSF, IRC, and Anera have reported incidents where their staff were targeted despite following deconfliction procedures and notifying the IDF of their movements. Calls for systemic change and accountability have been made by aid agencies, who fear that without better protection measures in place, more violence against humanitarian workers will occur in the future.
The situation in Gaza has raised concerns about the safety of aid workers and the ability of humanitarian organizations to deliver crucial assistance to those in need. As the international community calls for justice and improved protection measures, the future of humanitarian efforts in Gaza remains uncertain.
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