The Biden administration has stated that it does not have any plans to investigate an Israeli strike in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of seven humanitarian workers, including an American citizen, according to the White House.
The White House has confirmed that it will not conduct an independent investigation or verify Israel’s inquiry into the incident, as noted by National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.
“I’m not ready to speculate on any actions we may or may not take at this point,” Mr. Kirby told reporters on April 3. “We do not have any plans to carry out a separate investigation.”
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Mr. Netanyahu has described the Israeli attack on the humanitarian convoy as tragic and unintentional, and the Israeli military has promised an independent investigation into the incident.
“I want to make it clear,” Mr. Halevi said, “The strike was not intended to harm the WCK aid workers.”
Images of the aftermath of the strike show that the SUV carrying the workers was clearly marked as a humanitarian vehicle and displayed the name of the aid organization on the roof for identification by drones.
“This conflict has seen a significant number of aid workers killed,” President Biden remarked in a statement. “The United States has consistently urged Israel to coordinate its military operations against Hamas with humanitarian efforts to prevent civilian casualties.”
However, Mr. Kirby mentioned that the Biden administration trusts in the adequacy of Israel’s investigation into the matter and did not specify any repercussions for the death of the American citizen Jacob Flickinger.
“We anticipate that they will conduct a thorough and transparent investigation,” Mr. Kirby stated. “We await their findings regarding this incident. They have acknowledged their responsibility for the strike and are working on the specifics.”
The incident has further strained the already fragile relationship between the United States and Israel as the Biden administration works to dissuade Mr. Netanyahu from proceeding with a planned invasion of Rafah, where over a million Gazan civilians have been displaced due to Israeli advances.
Another key point of contention has been Israel’s continued ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza and its refusal to allow more humanitarian aid, such as food and water, into the region.
This policy has led to a food crisis and placed thousands of Gazans at risk of starvation.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has initiated the construction of a pier in Gaza to facilitate aid delivery to the residents since Israel prohibits additional aid trucks from entering the territory.
In response, Mr. Kirby affirmed that the Biden administration remains committed to encouraging Israel to adopt a more cautious approach but clarified that there are no plans to restrict arms sales to Israel.
“We continue to support Israel’s ability to defend itself against ongoing threats,” he explained. “While we urge them to minimize civilian casualties by being more precise, targeted, and careful in their actions.”
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