‘Biden Remains Firm on Policies Despite Outrage Over Aid Workers’ Deaths’

President Joe Biden and his administration are reportedly not planning to change their policy towards Israel despite the recent Israel Defense Forces strike that resulted in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza. Although the president was privately enraged by the actions, senior administration officials have stated that there are no plans for a policy shift.

While publicly calling for “accountability” and urging more assistance to be allowed into Gaza, the administration has confirmed that these are the only planned actions in response to the incident, as per a report by Politico.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also stated that the U.S. will not be changing its approach to Israel. “We are still supporting their right to defend themselves and we’re going to continue to do that,” Kirby told reporters. He emphasized that no decisions regarding a shift in policy have been made yet.

Despite previous criticisms of Israel’s actions in the conflict with Hamas, Biden has not yielded to pressure from progressive groups and pro-Palestinian advocates to impose restrictions on Israel. The administration argues that such moves would harm the U.S.’s relationship with Israel.

Following the incident where bombs were dropped on the World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of aid workers, Israeli officials have apologized but maintained that the strikes were accidental. The convoy, clearly marked with the organization’s insignia, was hit multiple times by Israeli forces despite prior information about its movements. As a result, World Central Kitchen has suspended its food deliveries in Gaza.

In response to the incident, Biden criticized Israel’s handling of aid workers and civilians in Gaza. He stated, “Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians. Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen. Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians.”

While there is “no evidence” that Israel intended to harm the aid workers, Kirby emphasized, the attack has drawn significant outrage. Celebrity chef José Andrés, whose aid organization was involved in the convoy, has close ties with the Biden White House and received a call from the president offering sympathies after the attack.

The tragic incident has resonated deeply, particularly as Andrés and World Central Kitchen are widely admired for their humanitarian work. The U.S. official commented, “Everyone loves José and World Central Kitchen and it just seems like a blatantly horrific and stupid mistake to do that.”