By Elizabeth Stites
President Joe Biden said he was “outraged” by the Israeli military’s attacks that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers traveling in three vehicles in Gaza on April 2, 2024, and called for Israel to conduct a swift investigation into the strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he “deeply regrets” the mistake and that Israel would undertake an investigation. World Central Kitchen, one of the few international aid groups operating in Gaza, announced shortly after the attack that it would suspend its operations in Gaza.
This attack was not, as Biden pointed out in his remarks on April 2, a “stand-alone incident.” More than 180 other aid workers have been killed since the start of the Israeli invasion in October 2023, according to the United Nations. Most of them were Palestinians working with the United Nations.
More broadly, attacks on aid workers in many wars, including those in Syria, Mali, Myanmar and Afghanistan, have been on the rise since the late 1990s, according to the nonprofit group Aid Worker Security Database. In 2023, 237 aid workers were killed, kidnapped or wounded, marking a sharp rise from the 35 humanitarians who faced the same fate in 1997.
The Conversation U.S.’s politics and society editor, Amy Lieberman, spoke with Elizabeth Stites, a scholar of conflict, violence and humanitarianism at Tufts University’s Feinstein International Center, to better understand what is behind the rise in aid worker attacks and the implications of the World Central Kitchen workers’ deaths.
Why has it become more dangerous for aid workers to operate in conflict zones?
Overall, the targeting of aid workers has expanded in war. Aid workers used to be considered off-limits. Now, many more aid workers are being killed.
But there are also many more aid workers than there used to be, and we are delivering aid in different ways.
Increasingly, in a lot of conflicts, like in Gaza, fighting is taking place within cities, where civilians live and where aid workers are based. There have also been rising numbers of attacks on hospitals, schools, internal displacement camps for civilians and other civilian places, which are supposed to be protected, humanitarian spaces.
Omar Zaghloul/Anadolu via Getty Images
What are humanitarian spaces, and why does this matter?
A humanitarian space is used primarily by civilians and is a place that, according to international law, should not be targeted during a war. All of this has been thrown out the window in the context of Gaza, where hospitals have been directly targeted and destroyed.
There is also the idea that aid workers are meant to be neutral and able to do their jobs without political interference, with the goal of saving lives and livelihoods. This idea of true objectivity is almost a utopian idea. In the Afghanistan War, for example, aid was funded by the U.S., which was a party to the conflict. From the Taliban’s perspective, this wasn’t neutral; this was U.S. aid, and the U.S. was one of the fighting forces.
There are only a few organizations, such as Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which make staying out of conflict politics their modus operandi – and even they struggle. This is partially because, among other reasons, many armed actors don’t trust the neutrality of aid.
In Gaza, aid is completely politicized in terms of where food or medical supplies goes, who is taking it in and how it gets there. This makes it incredibly difficult for aid workers to do their job and for civilians to get what they need to survive.
What else has shifted about aid worker attacks and responses to them?
Aid workers are attacked in a lot of places, but the amount of attention this receives differs greatly based on the nationality of the aid workers in question. In 13 years of conflict in Syria, relatively few foreign aid workers have been killed, because most foreign donors are not willing to risk having their citizens in these places. Instead, the international organizations operate remotely, meaning it is local staff from national organizations delivering the aid and, as a result, taking the risks.
These local staff are working in war zones and trying to protect and provide for the families in these same war zones, something very few foreign aid workers ever have to contend with. It is these same local staff who are being killed while trying to provide aid to their fellow citizens, friends and neighbors.
How are aid workers typically assured they will be secure in a war zone?
This can look different in various conflicts. In a situation like Gaza, there would have been multiple levels of conversation and security protocols, likely starting with the aid workers themselves. After they finished unloading their trucks, they would likely have radioed their security officer to check if they were good to go. That security officer would then talk to his or her official Israeli military contacts, as well as with any local sources, to make sure it was safe.
It sounds like the World Central Kitchen workers were in direct contact with IDF and had clearance from them to travel. The World Central Kitchen workers were traveling along one of Israel’s preapproved aid delivery routes. We know that they were in clearly marked vehicles and were targeted anyway – whether it was intentional or not remains to be seen.
World Central Kitchen / Handout /Anadolu via Getty Images
How is the Gaza conflict different from other wars in terms of aid worker attacks, and what could this mean for future humanitarian work there?
These attacks are increasingly routine, unfortunately, in war. There have been more than 180 local aid workers killed since the start of the conflict.
For me, these recent deaths raise the question of what type of aid worker we care about and why. Six of the World Central Kitchen workers who were killed were foreigners, which is one reason why I think we are paying attention. Possibly the fact that some of these World Central Kitchen workers were from influential countries like Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. may turn up the heat on the Israeli military and shine a spotlight on this – but I think it will fade relatively quickly.
Israel has also come out and said it was a mistake. That is an interesting aspect to follow, and we will see if that results in maybe a brief expansion of humanitarian space to allow better access to civilians, to encourage international aid groups to come back to Gaza.
Elizabeth Stites is Associate Research Professor of International Relations at Tufts University.
The Conversation arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse and recognition of the vital role that academic experts could play in the public arena. Information has always been essential to democracy. It’s a societal good, like clean water. But many now find it difficult to put their trust in the media and experts who have spent years researching a topic. Instead, they listen to those who have the loudest voices. Those uninformed views are amplified by social media networks that reward those who spark outrage instead of insight or thoughtful discussion. The Conversation seeks to be part of the solution to this problem, to raise up the voices of true experts and to make their knowledge available to everyone. The Conversation publishes nightly at 9 p.m. on FlaglerLive.
ASF says
Oh, we get it. Israel, alone,is reponsible for all the the deaths of aid workers in the region. Although it is true that alone Israel voluntarily cindiucts investigations into such tragedies when they occur.
And if you beleive only Israel is responsble for such events happeni g (like those sorts of deaths never happen in other war zones ever) and that they do it for kicks and giggles, there’s a bridge in Brooklyn up for sale (if you can get Pro-Palestinian protesters to stop blocking it daily.)
Pierre Tristam says
Oh ye Israel, O Jerusalem, we prostrate ourselves before you, O beacon to the world, grace of Palestinians, City upon a thousand hills. Please, Mr. Netanyahu, may I have some more missiles blow my ass to smithereens? Pretty please?
ASF says
I believe two things need to happen at this point: (1) Netanyahu needs to step aside and not run for office again. He is too radioactive (actually, I have felt that way for quite some time now). But Israel needs to take the reins and decide when their elections take place and how–not the United States or any other outside entity.
(2) The US and the EU need to stop leading Iran and other terrorist entities (epsecially those backed by Russia and China) to believe that the Free World–and the United States, in particular, are willing to give in to their demands, including deserting other democratic allies like Israel. That is not anywhere near a sane foreign policy and it will NOT end well.
If Israel falls, that will leave the US on the hook to spill American blood in order to defend democratic interests in the Middle East. Good luck to us if that is what happens.
Bill C says
@ASF The demon-faced Netanyahu is engaged in group punishment, no accident. It is retribution of the sickest kind. Gaza is, by design, a concentration camp planned and executed by Israel, relying not only on military force, but on starvation as a weapon. If 1,200 Israeli deaths at the hands of Hamas was so abominable and heinous, then what are the words for the death of 30,000 Palestinians, the majority of them non combatant women and children? The words are war crimes and crimes against humanity, for which the world will despise Israel for decades, and will forever be their history.
ASF says
This tragedy was not a deliberately planned event–there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that is the case..Only highly charged rhetoric from parties already known to be hostile to Israel.
This incident has, thuis far, been promptly investigated by Israel with two IDF being fired already as a result of the ongoing inquiry. They are taking responsibility which is in complete contrast to what Hamas, Iran and all of Israel’s sworn enemies do.
When Barack Obama was President and Joe Biden Vice President, one American strike in Afghanistan alone took out an entire Doctors Without Berders hospital. Nothing much ensued as a result of that. No heads rolled.
On August 29, 2021, The Biden Administration conducted an airstrike in Kabul against what they though was an Islamic State bomber. It turned out that the man they killed, whose name was Zemari Ahmadi, was a US aid worker. Along with himself, nine members if his family was killed in that strike.
Hamas continues to use its civilian population as Human Shields and ” Pallywood” props–a terrorist Modus Operandi that will continue to cause Palestinian deaths as long as it suits Hamas’s objective to keep employing it and as long as the Anti-Zionist world and the media not only allow it but enable and even reward the practice.
Perhaps it should be noted that this convoy was traveling at 10 PM at night in highly sensitive and surveilled area without the WCK being in communication with the IDF as per their movements, as was accepted practice. There are also reports that at least one gun man firing weapons was a part of that WCK convoy.
Being quick to judge before all the facts are in and doling out unequal judgements as a result is both highly prejudicial and not of benefit to humanity at all.
Bill C says
It’s common knowledge that Israel herded the Palestinians from the north to the south of Gaza with the bait of safety there from attack. They were concentrated around Rafah, (as in concentration camp). Everyone in the world except you has seen the pictures on the news.
TREEMAN says
Another “Mistake Attack” by the IDF like the IDF “Mistake Attack” against the USS Liberty!! Who in the IDF will be charged with this “Mistake Attack”??? Will Israel ‘White-Wash’ this ‘Mistake Attack’ in Gaza like they ‘White-Washed’ the ‘ THREE Mistake Attacks’ against the USS Liberty!! Veterans will NEVER Forget the ‘Cover-Up’ of the IDF Attack against the USS Liberty! STOP the ‘White Wash’ by the Israeli Lobbyist in Washington, D.C.
ASF says
There have been severak in depth offiical investigations into the USS Liberty and every single one of them has come to the saem conclusion…That it was a tragic “Friednly Fire” incident that was as much the fault of Amrican Defense derotments misetps as Israeli ones. The difference is, the Israelis were in the ehat of the Six Days War at the time and had warned the US Defense Deprtment to stay away from coordoinates where Egypt was known to fly the flase flags of other nations in order to take out critical Israeli targets. The US–which had declared Neutral Status in the conflict and had sent the USS LIberty into those coordinates as a spy ship–either ignored those communications or messed up in forwarding them to the USS LIberty crew.
Whatever. Israel apoligized abotu a thousand times, paid reparations to the survivors and family members of the crew and comoensated the US for the cost of the sip itself. It’s notable that no other country–including Middle East countries–that have deliebrately targeted US civilian or military targets have done anywhere near the same. But the USS Liberty hate crew never mentions them…Just like “Anti-Zionists” never mention how Muslims kill more Muslims than anybody else…and never seem to have any tears to shed when other “aid workers” die in other war zones.
TREEMAN says
So you must be one of the Veteran-Haters who “forced” the change of the USS Liberty Memorial so that it does NOT state that the Israel Defense Force ATTACKED the USS Liberty in THREE separate Attacks!!! The Blood of the USS Liberty Crew is on your Hands! NOTE: We are NOT “Anti-Zionists”( or any name you decide to call us); we only Support the TRUTH! We also know that Hitler’s Nazis and Stalin’s Communists Killed 10-14 Million Jews plus Millions of other people! Freedom is NOT Free! Thank every Veteran!
Pogo says
@Elizabeth Stites
https://theconversation.com/profiles/elizabeth-stites-1329529
You certainly are consistent.
The populations of Gaza, and Israel, led by self-serving murderers, are the grass trampled by the great powers’ fight to the death.
The oil companies posing as countries are oblivious to all of this — there will be blood; what of it? When did vicious old men ever care?
The displaced survivors of mass murder, e g., the refugees of Hitler’s insanity, Putin’s allies (Dr. al-Assad, Iran’s imams) continue to write history: fleeing and wandering from battlefield to battlefield — welcome nowhere. And now, finally pushing the so-called first world into the hands of its own worst.
Madness and suicide of an entire world — goodnight, and good luck.
Laurel says
All financial aid should be cut off to Israel immediately! This is genocide, and the U.S. will be expected to pay to clean up the rubble.
If there was a sincere end to this war, Israel should have told the Palistinians to turn over Hammas fighters and Israel would agree to a two state system. This is clearly not what Isreal wanted.
There is no excuse for this tragedy and I don’t believe this incident was a mistake. These workers were cleared to travel by the Israeli army.
jake says
It’s a war, started by Hamas, people die. Israel will never agree to a “two state system”, and why should they? No one cares what you believe, but if you travel into a war zone, your chances of dying are considerably more probable.
Bill C says
What is in the national interest of the U.S. to be tied to “our friend and ally” Israel? What do they do for the U.S. except take money and weapons then tell our President to f— off. International condemnation and disgrace is the result of the relationship as Biden says “no” but proceeds with a “yes”. The U.S. is being drawn into a much wider war that will only multiply and energize our international enemies and lead to greater division at home.
ASF says
The Defensive Aid that Israel receives is used towards the benefit of both the US and Israel. The aid is contingent upon Israel employing US companies to produce intelligence and advanced technologies that they then share with the United States. Israel serves as an unoffiical base for the United States in our own Middle East operations and Israel also stands as the one sole democratic vanguard in a region known to be actively hostile towards democratic interests overall.
With Israel out of the way, perhaps we, in America, can look forward to spilling much more of our own blood in defense of democracy. Be careful what you wish for.
Bill C says
Americans can be proud that our weapons and technology are being used in support of Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians.
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
It matters now because all 7 workers where white.
TREEMAN says
Another “Mistake Attack” by the IDF! Will Israel try to “White Wash” this Attack like it tried to “White Wash” the ‘Mistake Attack’ against the USS Liberty??
Skibum says
Israel has been well known to possess and utilize the most advanced technology available to detect and mitigate terrorist attacks and protect its citizens. Their military has been able to identify and take out individual Hamas leaders, and their advanced capabilities allowed them to penetrate other countries’ military defenses in very successful targeted strikes, including into Iran in years past to take out nuclear facilities that were under construction and near completion. Because of all of the money and resources poured into the Israeli military capabilities, it is incomprehensible to me how the military could have screwed up so badly and attacked several vehicles and aid workers. Regardless of how the Israeli government and military leaders are trying to spin this as just a horrible accident, I find it difficult to believe such nonsense when looking at the multitude of technology and resources available to them. Personally, I think they didn’t like chef Jose Andres’ efforts to feed the Palestinians, and thought this was a good time to have a convenient “accident” that might curtail the work of the World Central Kitchen’s aid efforts. I hope there is an independent investigation, and I really hope I am wrong, but they will have to do a whole lot not to just convince me otherwise, but to also convince the entire world that they did not intentionally target those innocent aid workers.
ASF says
It has also been reported that this particular World Center Kitchen Convoy was moving through sensitive areas of Gaza (known to be under surveillance) in the middle of the night. Why that was the case–when the WCK has been known to work closely with Israel in the past as regards their operations, is a question no one seems to be inclined to ask.
I also wonder if anyone is bothering to ask: How many aid workers have been killed in other war zones and trouble spots throughout the world–for instance, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Sudan, Haiti, the Ukriane, Syria, Mexcio. I would guess more than three or four. Maybe they don’t merit as much concern, condemnation and demands for immediate change/ceasefires because Israel can’t be blamed for those deaths.
I would think that aid workers are also endangered by the tunnels built underneath UNWRA headquarters as well as the use of NGO/UN classrooms, shelters and medical facilities as Hamas/IJ weapons depots and militant operations centers There doesn’t seem to be nearly as much humanitarian concern and demands for change on the oarts of the Palestinian authorities as regards that either.
Pierre Tristam says
Way to blame the aid victims. Surely you wouldn’t be that disgusting blaming Israel’s Oct. 7 victims for living close to Gaza?
jake says
All innocent victims, however the “aid victims” were traveling through a war zone, at night which makes it highly suspicious, and “Israel’s Oct.7 victims” were at a music festival, in Israel. Completely different situation.
Kennan says
Well, maybe this will put an end to the grift we know as a US foreign-policy. I’m an American by birth, but a human being by choice. If you can’t call something out for what it is, without being called anti Semite by Israel , buy AIPAC or any other racist organization. Don’t get me wrong. The damage was done long long ago, and ever since the Biden administration, the state department, Netanyahu and the IDF have been putting forth the most pathetic attempt at damage control for murder in recent history.
It really shows a lack of respect for the American people, especially Arab Americans, and the rest of the world to indulge in this type of behavior. reporters and human beings with an ounce of decency are asking questions. Questions like, why is the IDF blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza? Why, after there was corroboration between world central food aid, and the Israeli government as to their delivery of food do they just blatantly get blown off the face of the Earth? When State department officials like Matt Miller and John Kirby, or asked questions like this, their answer is Israel is capable of making their own decisions. Really?
We could end this tomorrow. We could’ve ended this months ago. We give Israel $4 billion a year for being Israel. An additional 14 billion to make sure we finish the job blowing up civilians, and in the last couple of days the Biden ministration quietly pushes forth more weapons and jets so that the people left being crowded into RAFA can all die.
What have we become? Is this what we are? Is this who we are? The shining city on the hill? Total bullshit! It’s horrific enough that this is happening to Gaza, but this is happening to the entire world in real time, and we get to watch while our leaders shamed themselves for one of the most cruel leaders on planet earth. Shame on the Biden administration. Shame on America. We went from being the underdog that everyone wanted to see succeed, shortly after World War II to a selfish overlord with a little to no regard for human life.
I realize this is not a reflection of most of us, but it’s a very real reflection of the people making the decisions. It’s disgusting.
I’ve been a lifelong Democrat that will not be voting in November. Some of my friends warned me that if I don’t we put Trump in office. I don’t care. Trump isn’t president now. Biden is. Honestly, this may be exactly what we deserve. Our country is so divided that we can’t even see suffering for suffering sake, and yet our leaders still double down and act, as if we’re still the greatest country in the world. I don’t see what’s coming down the pike in the future, but something has to change.
SHAMEFUL .
Ed P says
War is ugly. People die. Combatants and innocents die. War is justified in the idea that pure evil must be vanquished/eliminated. Good vs Evil. Lines are blurred.
Who’s right or who’s wrong?
The rules of war changed during the Vietnam war when cameras brought the brutality to the evening news and living rooms throughout the world. The reality is sickening, but to win a war you must SANITIZE the area. Fact. That can not be done any longer because of social media and cameras. So can anyone really win?
Just a thought, remember who dropped the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Remember August 6 and 9 1945 when some 129,000-226,00 mostly civilians were eradicated. Then the nuclear effect took another 150,000 not to mention the horrific burns and injuries suffered. Ethical?Justified? Necessary?
Historians believe the first recorded war took place is Mesopotamia in 2700 BC.
Military conflict plagues mankind and will continue until the end.
My point, there may not be an answer to this conflict, or any other current or future atrocities. Mankind as a whole is a slow learner there are no winner…just survivors.
Ray W. says
Thank you, Ed P, for your perspectives.
Kennan says
Ed i completely resect what you are trying to say, but my contention has always been…”This is not a war”. Terrorism is a tactic. There is always collateral damage in wars, no one is so ignorant to not see that, but Hamas is not an army or a government. They were put in power by Israel to quell the fictitious Palestinian uprising that Netanyahu professed could happen, but knew never would in early 2000’s. PALESTINIANS live in open air prison for better part of 20 years. Nobody in, nobody out. Two factors Netanyahu knew could sell his GRIFT after October 7, were Hamas hiding among Palestinians and calling it a war. If he calls it a war it greenlights him to kill Palestinian civilians, and lets face it. It conflates Hamas and Palestinians rather conveniently. He had a plan from day one, when you turn the lights out and cut off water before major bombing begins you know there is something more sinister planned. THIS IS NOT COMPLICATED OR COMPLEX. Israel wants to push that narrative as long as possible in order to meet their ends.
Sherry says
Thank you Kennan! You are Right On!
ASF says
If Gaza is in an open air prison, blame Hamas for making it one.
Sherry says
This from the “Times of Israel”. . . take a good close read:
Meanwhile, Israel has allowed suitcases holding millions in Qatari cash to enter Gaza through its crossings since 2018, in order to maintain its fragile ceasefire with the Hamas rulers of the Strip.
Most of the time, Israeli policy was to treat the Palestinian Authority as a burden and Hamas as an asset. Far-right MK Bezalel Smotrich, now the finance minister in the hardline government and leader of the Religious Zionism party, said so himself in 2015.
According to various reports, Netanyahu made a similar point at a Likud faction meeting in early 2019, when he was quoted as saying that those who oppose a Palestinian state should support the transfer of funds to Gaza, because maintaining the separation between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza would prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
While Netanyahu does not make these kind of statements publicly or officially, his words are in line with the policy that he implemented.
The same messaging was repeated by right-wing commentators, who may have received briefings on the matter or talked to Likud higher-ups and understood the message.
Bolstered by this policy, Hamas grew stronger and stronger until Saturday, Israel’s “Pearl Harbor,” the bloodiest day in its history — when terrorists crossed the border, slaughtered hundreds of Israelis and kidnapped an unknown number under the cover of thousands of rockets fired at towns throughout the country’s south and center.
The country has known attacks and wars, but never on such a scale in a single morning.
One thing is clear: The concept of indirectly strengthening Hamas — while tolerating sporadic attacks and minor military operations every few years — went up in smoke Saturday.
Just a few days ago, Assaf Pozilov, a reporter for the Kan public broadcaster, tweeted the following: “The Islamic Jihad organization has started a noisy exercise very close to the border, in which they practiced launching missiles, breaking into Israel and kidnapping soldiers.”
The difference between Islamic Jihad and Hamas doesn’t matter much at this point. As far as the State of Israel is concerned, the territory is under the control of Hamas, and it is responsible for all the training and activities there.
Hamas became stronger and used the auspices of peace that Israelis so longed for as cover for its training, and hundreds of Israelis have paid with their lives for this massive omission.
The terror inflicted on the civilian population in Israel is so enormous that the wounds from it will not heal for years, a challenge compounded by the dozens abducted into Gaza.
Judging by the way Netanyahu has managed Gaza in the last 13 years, it is not certain that there will be a clear policy going forward.
Kennan says
Thank you Sherry! Right on point. I don’t know that it’s going to change the minds of people that have been conditioned to carry water for Israel and conflate Hamas with Palestinians? Your efforts and attention to detail and facts are appreciated.
Sherry says
Thanks Kennan! Facts First! And, where better to get an analysis of the whole picture than from an Israeli media outlet. There is no completely “innocent” side in this decades old conflict. The sordid history is complicated! The religious perspective is complicated! The politics is complicated!
But, continuing to kill innocent women and children, while denying them food/water/shelter should be unacceptable to each and every human being!
ASF says
We get it. Israel is damned if they do and dead if they don’t. How convenient for “Anti-Zionist”/simplistically pseudo-progressive forces that hesitate to deal with the more problematic issues in The Middle East. Those issues, related to Jihadist terrorism and the increasing collusion of both by Russia and China, are made worse by the strategic retreat of the United States and other democracies which seem to find it convenient to blame Israel for the fall-out that results.
turdalert says
Spot on keenan.