World reacts to Israel's attack on World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza

World powers have condemned a deadly Israeli strike in besieged Gaza that killed seven charity staff as they unloaded desperately needed aid brought by sea to the war-torn territory.

World Central Kitchen or WCK — one of two NGOs spearheading efforts to deliver aid by boat — said a "targeted Israeli strike" on Monday killed Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and US-Canadian staff.

Six foreign citizens and a Palestinian were killed in the attack.

Here is how the countries and leaders are reacting:

UN

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the Israeli strike highlighted the "disregard for international humanitarian law and a disregard for the protection of humanitarian workers".

"The devastating Israeli airstrikes that killed @WCKitchen personnel yesterday bring the number of aid workers killed in this conflict to 196 – including more than 175 members of our own @UN staff," Guterres said in a post on X.

"This is unconscionable — but it is an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted," he said.

Türkiye

Türkiye extends its deepest condolences to the families of World Central Kitchen aid workers and condemns this brutal attack, the Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said.

In an X post on Tuesday, Altun said, "Yet another Israeli attack killed international aid workers who were trying to alleviate the human suffering in Gaza."

"Grave human rights violations, which have left a deep imprint in our collective memory, must stop. Israel should be held accountable for its war crimes," Altun said.

"Humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip, where food is being used as a weapon of war, is urgent to prevent the looming famine in Gaza. The works of humanitarian workers in Gaza reflect the resilience of human conscience in the face of Israel’s atrocities and they will always be remembered."

US

US President Joe Biden, main backer of Israel, called the US-based celebrity chef Jose Andres, who heads the charity, to say that he was "heartbroken" over the strike and to say that "he will make clear to Israel that humanitarian aid workers must be protected", White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing.

The White House condemned the Israeli strikes but said there is "no proof that the attack was intentional."

UK

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was "shocked and saddened" after learning that British nationals were among those killed.

He spoke to Netanyahu and told the Israeli leader that "he was appalled by the killing of aid workers", a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement.

He also "demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation into what happened".

The UK summoned the Israeli ambassador to express its "unequivocal condemnation".

France

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said that "nothing justifies such a tragedy", adding that "protecting humanitarian workers is a moral and legal imperative that everyone must adhere to".

Germany

Germany, another ally of Israel, urged Israel to probe itself.

"The Israeli government must investigate this terrible incident quickly and thoroughly," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Canada

"I am horrified to hear reports of the IDF strike taking the lives of seven World Central Kitchen employees in Gaza yesterday, including a Canadian citizen," Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.

"We condemn these strikes and call for a full investigation. Canada expects full accountability for these killings and we will convey this to the Israeli government directly. Strikes on humanitarian personnel are absolutely unacceptable," she said on X.

Joly's comments are some of the harshest that Canada has directed against Israel since the start of the Gaza war.

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slammed the "completely unacceptable" attack, called it a "tragedy that should never have occurred", and offered "sincere condolences" to the family of Australian volunteer Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, who was killed in the strike.

"She just wanted to help out through this charity. That says everything about the character of this young woman," Albanese said.

World Central Kitchen

The founder and leader of World Central Kitchen, Spanish-born US-based chef Jose Andres, said he was "heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family".

"The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing," he wrote on social media. "It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon."

The charity said it had coordinated its movements with the Israeli army and was travelling in vehicles branded with its logo.

It has paused its operations in Gaza.

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who on Tuesday was visiting a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan, said "I expect and demand that the Israeli government clarify as soon as possi ble the circumstances of this brutal attack".

EU

The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who is also Spanish, said that "despite all the demands to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, we see new innocent casualties".

"I condemn the attack and urge an investigation," he wrote on X.

Poland

Warsaw said it had asked the Israeli ambassador for "urgent explanations" about the incident, which killed one Polish citizen, and offered "condolences to the family of our brave volunteer".

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the country had also opened its own inquiry into the aid worker's death and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna said that Israel should compensate the families of the aid workers killed.

"The authorities should think about who should be held criminally responsible for pressing a certain button and how to compensate the families of the victims — even if it's impossible to do so with money," Szejna told Radio Zet.