Israel came under increasing pressure on Friday to step up aid to Gaza with its military admitting to “grave mistakes” when a drone killed seven aid workers in the territory.
The US-based organization World Central Kitchen, whose workers were killed in the strike on Monday, demanded an independent commission investigate the incident.
Poland has also demanded a “criminal inquiry” from Israel after what it referred to as the “murder” of the charity workers, one of whom was Polish.
Israel said on Friday it had targeted a “Hamas gunman” in the strike, while its military said there had been a series of “grave mistakes” and violations of its rules of engagement.
Israel said earlier on Friday it would permit “temporary” aid deliveries into northern Gaza, after Washington warned of a sharp shift in its policy over the war against Hamas.
Germany said Israel had “no more excuses” to delay the delivery of aid after nearly six months of war.
The toughened US position came after the killing of the World Central Kitchen workers, who included an Australian, three Britons, a Canadian-US dual national, a Palestinian, and a Pole.
World Central Kitchen said on Friday it was seeking an “independent commission to investigate the killings.”
An internal Israeli military inquiry said the drone team had made an “operational misjudgment of the situation” after spotting a suspected Hamas gunman firing from the top of an aid truck.
US President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call that Washington’s policy on Israel was dependent on the protection of civilians and aid workers in Gaza, the first hint of possible conditions to US military support.
“Israel will allow the temporary delivery of humanitarian aid” through the Ashdod Port and the Erez land crossing, as well as increased deliveries from Jordan, Netanyahu’s office said.
Oxfam said that since January, Palestinians in northern Gaza have eaten an average of just 245 calories per day, which accounts for less than a can of beans.
Charities have accused Israel of preventing the delivery of aid but Israel blamed shortages on the groups’ inability to distribute aid after it arrives.
Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, told The Guardian newspaper that Netanyahu’s initial comment on the deaths of the aid workers was “deeply insensitive.”
Netanyahu had said, “It happens in war” and stated the killings were unintentional. He has pledged an investigation “right to the end.”
Allies have been urging Bident to leverage the billions of dollars in military aid.
“If we don’t see the changes that we need to see, there’ll be changes in our own policy,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas, including in the city of Rafah, an aid entry point at the border of Egypt where most of Gaza’s population is seeking safety.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said the strike on aid workers had “reinforced the expressed concern over a potential Israeli military operation in Rafah.”
Israel’s army also said Austin had “discussed the threat posed by Iran and its proxy activities” in a call with his Israeli counterpart.
Iran has vowed retaliation after an air strike on Monday on its consulate in Damascus that killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Experts say the consulate strike is part of Israel boosting its actions against Iranian and pro-Iran commanders in Syria and Lebanon, which they fear could escalate into a wider war.
Following the strike that killed the WCK staff, relief work has become almost impossible, top aid groups said.
Spanish NGO Open Arms said it was suspending operations following the strikes
The United Nations Human Rights Council has demanded a halt in arms sales to Israel.
