Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

White House ‘very concerned’ after Israeli forces strike UN facility in Rafah

Israel says the airstrike killed a Hamas commander

Andrew Feinberg
Thursday 14 March 2024 17:09 GMT
Comments
Israel strikes UN warehouse in Rafah as famine looms in Gaza

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Biden administration is asking Israel for answers after an Israeli Defence Force strike on a United Nations Relief and Works Agency facility in Rafah killed an aid worker and injured civilians.

White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby on Thursday told reporters the US is “in touch with our Israeli counterparts” to “gather more information about exactly what happened” in regards to the airstrike on the UN-run aid warehouse.

“We’re very concerned about that,” Mr Kirby said.

Israeli Defence Forces said the “precisely targeted” strike killed a Hamas commander, Muhammad Abu Hasna, who was allegedly “involved in taking control of humanitarian aid” and supervising “activities of various Hamas units”.

A UNRWA spokesperson said a number of the 22 aid workers at the facility were injured in the strike, some quite severely.

The head of UNWRA, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement that the  “attack on one of the very few remaining UNRWA distribution centres in the Gaza Strip comes as food supplies are running out, hunger is widespread and, in some areas, turning into famine”.

“Attacks against UN facilities, convoys and personnel have become commonplace, in blatant disregard to international humanitarian law,”  he added.

Mr Kirby told reporters that the US offered “deepest condolences” to “all those who are affected” by the strike and said the US wants Israel to conduct a “swift investigation ... into exactly what happened”.

“We’ll stay in touch with them to get more information but we want to see a swift and thorough investigation as to exactly what happened here,” he said.

“We certainly understand respect and support Israel’s right to defend itself and to go after Hamas leaders. But we’ve also been clear that they have to do this in a way that protects innocent civilian lives, and humanitarian aid workers who are on the ground to protect those innocent civilian lives”.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in