RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned an Israeli strike the previous day that killed seven aid workers from a US-based charity in the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told of the Kingdom’s “denunciation of the targeting of the World Central Kitchen convoy in the Gaza Strip,” describing the attack in a statement as “a systematic continuation of Israel’s crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.”
WCK staff had just offloaded 100 tonnes of food aid from a barge which had sailed from Cyprus when Israel attacked the organization’s vehicle convoy overnight on Monday in an airstrike.
The Kingdom offered its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and reiterated that it “categorically rejects” the targeting of missions, relief organizations and their workers.
It also called on the international community to play its part in stopping such violations; protect unarmed civilians and workers in humanitarian and relief organizations; and work to bring in more urgent humanitarian aid to avoid aggravating the humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory.
The incident drew widespread international condemnation as the strike killed nationals from Australia, Britain and Poland, as well as Palestinians, and a dual citizen of the US and Canada.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the attack, saying it was an extension of a series of Israeli violations of international laws and norms and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The OIC called on the international community in a statement to assume its responsibilities toward obliging Israel to respect its duties under international humanitarian law.
The organization also renewed its call for an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression to protect civilians in the region and relief workers, and ensure adequate and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip.
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