Netanyahu's aid attack explanation; aid returns to Cyprus; Gaza damages reach $18.5bn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday Israel mistakenly killed seven people working for the aid charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) in a Gaza airstrike.

The explanation came amid demands from the U.S. and other allies for answers amid widespread condemnation.

Israel's military voiced "sincere sorrow" over the incident, which ratcheted up international pressure for steps to ease the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza nearly six months into Israel's siege attack on the Palestinian enclave.

The strike on the WCK convoy killed citizens of Australia, Britain and Poland, as well as Palestinians and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

WCK, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, said its staff were traveling in two armored cars emblazoned with the charity's logo and another vehicle, and had coordinated their movements with the Israeli military.

"Unfortunately in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

"This happens in war. We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence."

The Israeli military pledged an investigation by "an independent, professional and expert body".

At least 196 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since October, according to the United Nations, and Hamas has previously accused Israel of targeting aid distribution sites.

Sunak 'appalled'

In a call on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Netanyahu that Britain was appalled by the deaths, which included three Britons, and demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation, Sunak's office said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he expressed "anger and concern" to Netanyahu.

The U.S., Israel's closest ally, said that there was no evidence Israel deliberately targeted the aid workers but that it was outraged by their deaths. It said Israel had an obligation to ensure aid workers in Gaza were not harmed.

U.S. President Joe Biden called WCK founder Andres to express condolences. 

Aid returns to Cyprus

Seaborne aid for Gaza is returning to Cyprus after the WCK attack, as the U.S.-based charity said it would pause work in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The aid convoy was hit as it was leaving its Deir al-Balah warehouse after unloading more than 100 tons of food aid brought to Gaza by sea, WCK said.

The barge was part of a four-vessel flotilla which set sail from Larnaca, Cyprus, on March 30. Another vessel still loaded with 240 tons of food, the Jennifer, was heading back to Cyprus on Tuesday with the empty barge, a salvage boat and a tugboat after WCK suspended operations.

"They only managed to offload the barge," said a Cypriot official. "One third (of the aid cargo) was delivered, and two thirds is coming back."

Monday's attack was a serious setback in attempts to expedite aid into Gaza, where international agencies say many are on the verge of famine as a result of the Israeli assault, which has killed more than 32,000 people.

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Death toll rises

At least 32,975 Palestinians have been killed and 75,577 have been injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza since October 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Some 59 Palestinians were killed and 83 injured in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.

Gaza damages quantified

The Gaza Strip suffered about $18.5 billion in damages to critical infrastructure in the first four months of the Israeli bombardment launched in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, according to a joint World Bank and the United Nations report released on Tuesday.

The interim damage assessment report, which received financial support from the European Union, estimates the damages are equivalent to 97 percent of the combined GDP of the West Bank and Gaza in 2022 and left 26 million tons of debris and rubble that would take years to remove.

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