Israel’s targeted killing of Gaza aid workers ‘systematic’ policy: Oxfam official

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – The Israeli strike on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy in Gaza was a “targeted” attack that is part of a “systematic” policy employed in its ongoing assault on the Palestinian enclave, according to an Oxfam official.

The April 1 attack killed seven aid workers – three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, a US-Canadian dual citizen, and a Palestinian.

It has triggered strong condemnation around the globe and calls for accountability, with many, including WCK founder Jose Andres, disputing Israel’s claim that the attack was a “mistake” and a case of “misidentification.”

Bushra Khalidi, policy lead for Palestinian territories at Oxfam, also views the attack as “targeted and seemingly deliberate.”

“This is not an isolated incident. This has been systematic over the course of the last six months,” she said in an interview with Anadolu, pointing out that Israeli attacks have killed “almost 200 other aid workers” since last October.

“Israel has continued and continues to violate international law, (committing) war crime after war crime, atrocity crimes and is not being held accountable,” she said.

Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza has now killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, a majority of them women and children, and injured almost 76,000. It has laid waste to most of the enclave, displacing millions and leaving them facing starvation due to a crippling blockade on aid and essentials.

The “impunity” afforded to Israel by its Western allies has brought the situation to a point where Palestinians in Gaza are dying of starvation and famine-like conditions, she added.

“My feeling is that I have never seen this in my entire career as a humanitarian. We’ve never seen this level of devastation of desperation, and utter hopelessness,” said Khalidi.

She hailed all humanitarian workers in Gaza as “absolute heroes” who are helping people “trying to look for their next meal.”

“I feel very sad that the world has allowed for such a situation to happen,” she said.

- ‘Any country aiding Israel is complicit’

The main reason why Israel continues to carry out such attacks is that its “allies are not taking the actions that they should be taking,” such as stopping the transfer of weapons that have “a direct impact on what is happening in Gaza,” said Khalidi.

“We believe that any country that is aiding and abetting Israel in arms sales, in diplomatic support, and not calling for a cease-fire and not calling for a permanent cease-fire … is complicit in the war crimes unfolding in Gaza,” she said.

“This is international law. This is third states’ complicity,” she added.

Khalidi called on governments allied with Israel to “heed the call of the people.”

“Publics around the world, in every major city, have mobilized and we have heard the call for a permanent cease-fire,” she said.

“We are hearing now the call as well to stop arming Israel …Governments have to listen to their constituents. If they’re elected democratically, they owe their constituents to heed that call. Otherwise, they risk accountability as well,” she asserted.