© John Meore + © Peter Carr /The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Washington, DC) – President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got on a phone call Thursday — marking the first conversation for the pair since an Israeli air strike killed seven humanitarian workers. Netanyahu has apologized for the accidental killing of the workers with World Central Kitchens — an organization that provides meals to people in war-torn and naturally disaster-stricken areas.
One of the victims has been identified as 33-year-old Jacob Flickinger, a dual US-Canada citizen. His father has demanded an independent investigation into the air strike, and told NBC News: “An independent investigation is needed because aid workers continue to be killed by the IDF. They kept firing until every worker was dead. So I think the Israeli government, you know, owes the families at least an apology, but I would say much more.”
During their call, Biden told Netanyahu US policy toward the wall hinges on Israel providing more effective protection to civilians and humanitarian workers. He also urged the PM to get a deal done that will “bring the hostages home.” Other White House officials have struck a similar tone in recent days — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Biden told Netanyahu the deaths of the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were “unacceptable.”
