Netanyahu says Israel "unintentionally struck innocent people" as military investigates aid workers strike
From CNN’s Benjamin Brown in London
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israeli forces “unintentionally struck innocent people in the Gaza Strip.” @Netanyahu/X
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli forces “unintentionally struck innocent people in the Gaza Strip” in comments on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, in the last day, there was a tragic incident where our forces unintentionally struck innocent people in the Gaza Strip. It happens in war, and we are thoroughly investigating it. We are in contact with the governments and will do everything to prevent such occurrences in the future,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu’s remarks came after at least seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers were killed in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces earlier on Tuesday said they were investigating the strike “at the highest levels.”
In the same statement, Netanyahu said he is being released from the hospital after undergoing surgery to treat a hernia this weekend.
8:40 a.m. ET, April 2, 2024
Iran's supreme leader vows Israel "will be punished" for strike on consulate in Syria
From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali and Adam Pourahmadi
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning to Israel on Tuesday, saying Iranians "will punish" Israel after an attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
Monday's attack on the consulate in Damascus killed at least seven military officials of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including senior IRGC commanders Maj. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi. Israel's military said it does not comment on foreign reports, but a military spokesperson said Israeli intelligence suggested the building was not a consulate nor embassy but a military building of the Quds forces.
According to state news agency IRNA, Khamenei wrote that "the evil regime will be punished by the hands of our brave men. By God's will, we will make them regret this crime and other ones like it."
Ali Shamkhani, Khamenei’s political adviser and Iran’s former Supreme National Security Council secretary, said Tuesday in a post on X that whether the US knew of Israeli "attacks" or not does not affect its direct responsibility and consequences for strikes in Syria. The US has denied having any knowledge of plans to carry out the attack.
US and Israeli flags burned in protest: People gathered across the Iranian capital Monday night to protest against the bombing of Iran’s consulate in Damascus, which Tehran has blamed on Israel. Protestors could be heard chanting slogans such as “Death to Israel!” and “Revenge! Revenge!” Flags of Israel and the United States were also set on fire during protests.
CNN’s Xiaofei Xu contributed reporting.
8:07 a.m. ET, April 2, 2024
Israeli negotiators set to leave Cairo after drawing up new proposal for Hamas
From CNN’s Jeremy Diamond in Jerusalem and Benjamin Brown in London
An Israeli negotiating delegation will leave Cairo Tuesday, having formulated an “updated proposal” for Hamas.
“In the framework of the talks, under useful Egyptian mediation, the mediators formulated an updated proposal for Hamas,” Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said Tuesday in a statement on behalf of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency.
It added that Israel “expects the mediators to take vigorous action regarding Hamas to advance the negotiations” to find a deal for the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
The Israeli delegation in Cairo consisted of representatives of Israel’s military, Mossad and ISA intelligence services. The ISA, also known as Shin Bet or Shabak, is Israel’s domestic security agency.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said he had authorized an Israeli negotiating delegation to travel to Qatar and Egypt.
Last week, a proposal that had been put forward by CIA Director Bill Burns and accepted by Israel was rejected by Hamas, according to an Israeli official.
8:04 a.m. ET, April 2, 2024
Maritime corridor delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza will continue, Cyprus president says
From CNN's Louis Mian
The maritime corridor delivering humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza “will continue,” the Cypriot president has vowed.
Nikos Christodoulides described the death of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers in Gaza as “tragic news,” at a news conference with the European Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola Tuesday in Cyprus.
The Amalthea Initiative — whereby aid is delivered to Gaza by ship — will continue, “as the humanitarian needs are there,” the Cypriot president said. Two ships, the “Open Arms” and the “Jennifer” have used the port of Larnaca in Cyprus as a base before shipping aid to Gaza.
Earlier on Tuesday, WCK, which has helped lead the maritime corridor initiative, said that it is immediately pausing its operations in the region. President Christodoulides also called for an “immediate and complete investigation” of the incident and expressed “sincere condolences to WCK and the countries who lost their citizens.”
“The tragic events should not discourage us,” Christodoulides said, adding: “We must double down on our efforts to provide more assistance as the needs dramatically escalate.”
7:44 a.m. ET, April 2, 2024
US told Iran it had no involvement or advance knowledge of consulate strike in Syria, US official says
From CNN's Arlette Saenz
The United States told Iran it was not involved and had no advance knowledge of Monday’s strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, according to a US official. The communication comes amid concern about the war between Israel and Hamas widening to a broader regional conflict. Iran has vowed retaliation after a strike it blamed on Israel killed two of its top commanders and five others at its consulate in Syria.
“The United States had no involvement in the strike and we did not know about it ahead of time,” according to a National Security Council spokesperson. The US has “communicated this directly to Iran,” the US official said. Axios was first to report this.
On Monday, the State Department said the US was gathering more information about Monday’s strike in Damascus but expressed concerns about any further regional conflict.
“Before we have gathered information about what exactly this was, I don't want to speak to it, specifically, but of course, we were always concerned about anything that would be escalatory or cause an increase in conflict in the region,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said “the United States should be answerable” for the attack. Amir-Abdollahian said Iran summoned the Swiss chargé d'affaires in Tehran early hours Tuesday local time to discuss the incident, given Switzerland's role in representing US interests in Iran.
2:08 p.m. ET, April 2, 2024
At least 7 aid workers killed in Israeli strike in Gaza. Here's what we know so far
From CNN Staff
A Palestinian inspects near a vehicle where employees from the World Central Kitchen (WCK), including foreigners, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on April 2, in central Gaza. Ahmed Zakot/Reuters
At least seven aid workers were killed by an Israeli air strike while delivering food to civilians in Gaza, according to non-profit group World Central Kitchen (WCK) and authorities in the besieged enclave.
Details are still emerging about those killed, but here's what we know so far:
The victims: Among those killed include a dual US-Canada national, as well as people from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, and a Palestinian, the group said.
“I am heartbroken and appalled that we – World Central Kitchen and the world – lost beautiful lives today because of a targeted attack by the IDF,” World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore said in the statement.
Saif Issam Abu-Taha, a Palestinian driver and translator working with WCK was named as one of the victims by Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese identified the Australian victim as Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom. “This is someone who volunteered in Australia to help people during the bushfires. This is someone who was volunteering overseas to provide aid through this charity for people who are suffering tremendous deprivation in Gaza,” Albanese said.
What Israel is saying: The Israeli military is investigating the deadly strike on WCK aid workers “at the highest levels," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari also said that he had spoken to WCK founder Chef José Andrés and “expressed the deepest condolences of the Israel Defense Forces to the families and the entire World Central Kitchen family.”
International response:
The White House says it is “heartbroken and deeply troubled” by the strike and is urging Israel to investigate the incident, a spokesperson for the National Security Council says.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said he had "personally" asked the Israeli Ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne for "urgent explanations."
The United Kingdom says it is “urgently seeking further information” on the death of a British aid worker killed in Gaza, its foreign office said on Tuesday.
Australia has contacted Israel, the country's prime minister Anthony Albanese said, adding that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has "requested a call-in from the Israeli ambassador to Australia" to "ask for accountability."
6:31 a.m. ET, April 2, 2024
International organizations and countries react to killing of aid workers in Gaza
From CNN's Eve Brennan, Benjamin Brown, Louis Mian, James Frater and Manveena Suri
International organizations and countries have taken to social media reacting to the killing of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers in Gaza on Tuesday.
Here's what they have to say:
United Nations (UN): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said he is “outraged by the killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza," describing them as "heroes, killed while trying to feed starving people," Griffiths posted on X. "All this talk about ceasefires, and still this war steals the best of us. The actions of those behind it are indefensible. This must stop."
World Food Programme (WFP): “This attack on our humanitarian community is unacceptable. The safety of aid workers is paramount, as is the safety of those who come to receive aid. #NotATarget,” said Executive Director of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) Cindy McCain on X.
World Health Organization (WHO): “How many more lives will be lost until there's a ceasefire? We are outraged by the killing of humanitarian workers in #Gaza. Safety is a basic requirement for the delivery of life-saving aid," Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X, reiterating his call for the "sustained protection of humanitarian workers across Gaza."
European Union: “This shows that the #UNSC resolution asking for an immediate ceasefire, a full humanitarian access and a reinforced protection of civilians must be immediately implemented,” said European Union (EU) top diplomat Josep Borrell on X.
Poland: “We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the [Polish] volunteer who was providing aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Poland objects to the disregard for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers,” said Poland’s foreign ministry on X.
6:02 a.m. ET, April 2, 2024
Israeli military says it is investigating aid worker killings “at the highest levels”
From CNN’s Benjamin Brown in London
Palestinians stand next to a vehicle where employees from the World Central Kitchen (WCK), including foreigners, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza, on April 2. Ahmed Zakot/Reuters
The Israeli military said Tuesday it was investigating a deadly strike on World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers “at the highest levels.”
“We have been reviewing the incident at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of what happened and how it happened,” a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military said Tuesday.
An Israeli airstrike killed at least seven aid workers from a team delivering food to civilians in Gaza, according to WCK and authorities in the enclave. Those killed include a dual US-Canada national, as well as people from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, and a Palestinian, according to the non-profit.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said he had spoken to WCK founder Chef José Andrés and “expressed the deepest condolences of the Israel Defense Forces to the families and the entire World Central Kitchen family.”
Hagari said that the IDF would investigate the events “thoroughly and transparently”, and the Israeli military had expressed “sincere sorrow” to its “allied nations who have been doing and continue to do so much to assist those in need.”
“We will get to the bottom of this and we will share our findings transparently,” Hagari said. The IDF’s review would further help “reduce the risk of such an event from occurring again.”
2:02 p.m. ET, April 2, 2024
Iranian president says attack on its consulate in Syria "will not go unanswered"
From CNN’s Adam Pourahmadi, Alireza Hajhosseini and Celine Alkhaldi
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi makes a speech at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey, on January 24. Dogukan Keskinkilic/Anadolu/Getty Images
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday blamed Israel for an attack on Tehran’s consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus, saying it “will not go unanswered,” state news agency IRNA reported.
“The Zionists should know that they will never achieve their sinister goals with such inhumane actions, and day by day they have witnessed the strengthening of the resistance front and the disgust and hatred of free nations against their illegitimate nature. This cowardly crime will not go unanswered,” Raisi said, according to IRNA.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced after a meeting with Raisi on Monday that “appropriate decisions” were made in response to the attack, IRNA reported.
The attack killed at least seven officials including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and senior commander Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.
Israel's military said it does not comment on foreign reports, but its spokesperson told CNN the consulate was a "military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building."
