Live Updates: US 'heartbroken' after Israeli strike kills aid workers

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

0318 GMT — US 'heartbroken' after Israeli strike kills aid workers

The White House said it was "heartbroken" after several people working for World Central Kitchen, a US-based aid organisation, were killed in an Israeli military strike in Gaza.

"We are heartbroken and deeply troubled by the strike," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson wrote on social media platform X.

Watson added that "humanitarian aid workers must be protected as they deliver aid that is desperately needed, and we urge Israel to swiftly investigate what happened."

0323 GMT — US, Jordan conduct humanitarian aid airdrop in Gaza

The US and Jordan conducted additional humanitarian aid air drops into Gaza.

"US Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on April 1, 2024, at 12:16 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X.

The operation included Jordan providing food and three US Air Force C-130 aircraft, it said, adding the C-130 aircraft dropped 25,344 meal equivalents including rice, flour, milk, pasta and canned food, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance.

0307 GMT — Australian PM confirms aid worker killed in Gaza strike was Australian national

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed one of several aid workers killed in a strike on Gaza was an Australian national.

Albanese said volunteer Zomi Frankcom had been doing "extraordinarily valuable work" helping distribute food in the besieged Gaza.

The Australian prime minister added that Canberra would "seek full and proper accountability."

04:21 GMT — Israel targets Gaza aid group, killing multiple foreign staffers

Five people working for an aid organisation, including four foreigners, have been killed by Israel in an air strike on their vehicle in Deir al Balah city in central Gaza, local authorities said.

"Israel struck a foreign team that consists of British, Polish and Australian nationals and another nationality still not identified, in addition to a Palestinian from Gaza," said Ismail Thawabteh, the director of the Government Media Office, at a press conference.

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that the vehicle belonged to World Central Kitchen (WCK), a US-based aid organisation founded by celebrity humanitarian-chef Jose Andres.

03:40 GMT — Israel, US discuss Rafah invasion

The United States has said that it had expressed concerns to Israel about its planned invasion in Rafah in besieged Gaza, and that Israel had pledged to "take these concerns into account."

The two sides had a "constructive engagement on Rafah" during the videoconference meeting, attended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the White House said in a statement.

"The US side expressed its concerns with various courses of action in Rafah. The Israeli side agreed to take these concerns into account and to have follow-up discussions," the statement added.

03:13 GMT — Al Jazeera condemns 'dangerous' Israel action against network

Al Jazeera has condemned what it called "dangerous" moves by the Israeli government to ban the Qatar-based news channel amid a long-running battle over its reporting intensified by coverage of Tel Aviv's genocide in besieged Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will use new powers to stop Al Jazeera being shown in Israel, calling it a "terrorist channel".

In response, Al Jazeera said it "condemns these statements and sees [them] as nothing but a dangerous ludicrous lie".

02:27 GMT — France seeks UNSC resolution for Gaza truce monitoring

France has proposed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that seeks options for possible UN monitoring of a ceasefire in besieged Gaza and proposals to help the Palestinian Authority assume responsibilities.

"It's an ambitious project. It will take time," French UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said of the text, which will need at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the four other permanent members: the United States, Britain, Russia and China.

The draft resolution, seen by the Reuters news agency, also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all captives still held in Gaza.

02:00 GMT — Russia slams 'unacceptable' Israeli strike on Syria

Moscow has accused Israel of carrying out an "unacceptable" attack on a diplomatic building in Syria that destroyed the Iranian embassy's consular annexe in Damascus.

"On the evening of April 1, the Israeli Air Force struck the Iranian consulate building in Damascus," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"We strongly condemn this unacceptable attack against the Iranian consular mission in Syria."

For our live updates from Monday, April 1, click here.