President Joe Biden is “heartbroken” by the Israeli airstrike that killed multiple humanitarian aid workers, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
The Monday drone strike in question killed at least seven workers with World Central Kitchen, a humanitarian organization founded and operated by celebrity chef Jose Andres.
Both Jean-Pierre and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby briefed reporters Tuesday at the White House and opened their comments with news regarding the strike.
“The president, he called the chef Jose Andres to express that he’s heartbroken by this news of the airstrike that killed seven or eight workers and to express and share his deepest condolences,” Jean-Pierre stated. “The president conveyed he is grieving with the entire … World Central Kitchen family. The president felt it was important to recognize the tremendous contribution World Central Kitchen has made to the people in Gaza and the people around the world.”
Kirby said the White House was “devastated” by the strike and called for a swift, expanded investigation into the attack and for the results to be made readily public. He additionally noted that the total number of Americans killed in the strike remains unknown, as the death count could be revised up in the coming days. At least one American with dual citizenship has been confirmed as among the dead.
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Kirby resisted saying that Israel did not intentionally strike the WCK convoy, as the Israel Defense Forces have claimed, and declined to say Israel is in violation of international law. The post-Oct. 7 fighting has resulted in the deaths of more than 200 aid workers.
Tuesday’s briefing can be seen in full below.
