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Gaza Aid Worker Tragedy Risks Overshadowing IDF Efforts to Protect Humanitarian Routes
(JNS) Yaakov Lappin - Monday night's unintentional Israeli drone strike on a World Central Kitchen aid convoy in Gaza, in which seven aid workers were killed, risks overshadowing a series of recent steps by the Israeli military to facilitate the flow of aid. In recent months, the IDF had worked closely with WCK to distribute aid to Gazans. The organization came to the assistance of Israelis after the Oct. 7 mass murder. IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Tuesday, "They were one of the first NGOs here." Their work "is critical; they are on the frontlines of humanity. We will get to the bottom of this." The IDF has been taking an expanded role in the humanitarian effort in Gaza, increasingly protecting routes used by aid convoys, with an emphasis on northern Gaza, where convoys faced looting by Hamas and criminal gangs. The Israeli military is also opening new routes for aid trucks. The Israeli military will also be coordinating complex security arrangements for the U.S. floating pier initiative. The IDF has also helped coordinate the construction of six field hospitals in Gaza, built by Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and aid organizations, and is examining ways to build another two.