World leaders have expressed horror and anger following an Israeli air strike that killed seven aid workers in the central Gaza Strip, and reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire.
United States-based aid group World Central Kitchen (WCK) called on Israel to stop "this indiscriminate killing” in Gaza, It also announced that it was "pausing [its] operations in the region”.
World leaders echoed the NGO’s anger, as Israel’s onslaught on Gaza continues to worsen its global image.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed one of the killed aid workers was Australian national Zomi Frankcom. Speaking at a news conference in Brisbane, Albanese said Frankcom’s death was "completely unacceptable” and "beyond any reasonable circumstances”.
"This news today is tragic. DFAT have also requested a call-in from the Israeli ambassador as well,” Albanese said, referring to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "We want full accountability for this. This is a tragedy that should never have occurred.
Albanese also reiterated calls for a "sustainable ceasefire”. "Australians want to see an end to this conflict,” he said.
UK Foreign Minister David Cameron described the killings as "deeply distressing”, calling on Israel to investigate and provide an explanation.
"British Nationals are reported to have been killed, we are urgently working to verify this information and will provide full support to their families,” Cameron said on X.
"It is essential that humanitarian workers are protected and able to carry out their work. We have called on Israel to immediately investigate and provide a full, transparent explanation of what happened.”
Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed condolences to the family of its citizen who was killed in a post on X. It added that it "objects to the disregard for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers”.
A foreign ministry spokesman said Warsaw had requested an "explanation from the Israeli embassy, the security forces and the Israeli military”, adding that the ministry was currently relying on information from the WCK.
Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares said he was "horrified” by the deaths of the aid workers. "Spain supports their work. We demand a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid,” he said.
Janez Lenarcic, the European Union’s humanitarian affairs commissioner, also condemned the attack and called for a ceasefire.
"This must stop. Now,” he said in a post on X.