'The world needs to wake up': Irish aid worker describes 'devastating' Gaza situation

People inspect the site where World Central Kitchen workers were killed in Deir al-Balah, Picture: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana

An Irish aid worker has said that the world "needs to wake up" following further deadly Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

ActionAid Ireland chief executive Karol Balfe said aid in the area is "desperately" needed, with thousands at risk of famine.

Seven aid workers who were part of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed after they were hit by airstrikes in the region on Monday.

Their convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian food aid.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country’s forces carried out the “unintended strike” on “innocent people in the Gaza Strip”.

Me Balfe told RTÉ's Morning Ireland: "It is absolutely devastating that humanitarian workers have been killed, simply trying to provide food to a starving population and it is extremely worrying in the wider context of aid at a time when food is so desperately needed in the Gaza Strip."

Ms Balfe said the conditions were "man-made" and that the "constant bombing, displacement and starvation of the population" was putting the region at risk of famine.

She said figures show that only 159 aid trucks managed to enter the region each day in March — down from 500 trucks per day before the war began.

"We desperately need aid in, we desperately need a cease-fire and we desperately need humanitarian aid protected."

Difficult to stomach

US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the deaths of the seven aid workers and said he had spoken to WCK founder Jose Andres.

Those killed include three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian.

“Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians,” Mr Biden said.

“Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen. Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians.”

Ms Balfe said that the comments from Mr Biden were "difficult to stomach."

"You know that this violence is happening because of the military campaign by Israel that is directly supported by the United States. It could not have been conducted and continued for this long without the support of the United States.

"If people are serious about stopping the killing, there has to be a cease-fire. You cannot distribute aid in a safe way when the bombs are falling the way they are."

Ms Balfe noted that many governments have provided air drops but said these were not the answer, as people were being killed while they were being dropped or swimming out to sea to collect them.

She said it was "simply unbelievable" that there had been no change in behaviour from Israel less than a week removed from a UN Security Council ruling which demanded an immediate ceasefire.

Israel's plan for a ground offensive in Rafah would be "absolutely devastating."

"It is time for the world to wake up. We know that famine is on our doorstep, we know the plausible risk of genocide and it is unbelievable that the United States continue to provide military support to a country that is plausibly carrying out genocide.

"Israel cannot be trusted in this war in Gaza. We need to see international pressure.