White House demands accountability in aid workers deaths in Gaza

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The international fallout continued Wednesday after an Israeli airstrike killed seven World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza, including an American-Canadian dual citizen. President Joe Biden is demanding accountability.

"He's outraged, and he's heartbroken," said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "We are all heartbroken here."

World Central Kitchen said the Israeli military knew the aid workers would be in the area. Israel said it misidentified their vehicles and is investigating their deaths.

"We want to make sure that it's swift, it's comprehensive, that it's made public," Jean-Pierre said. 

World Central Kitchen is now pausing its operations in Gaza. The organization said it served more than 40 million meals to Palestinians there before the attack.

"Israel needs to do more," Jean-Pierre said. "We want to make sure that civilians are kept safe."

To do that, members of both parties are increasing pressure on the White House to place conditions on U.S. military support for Israel for the protection of civilians in Gaza. However, Jean-Pierre said President Biden still opposes reducing U.S. aid to Israel.

"Nothing has changed," she said. 

The Biden administration is considering a major new weapons sale to Israel, including fighter jets and missiles. 

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stressed these weapons would not arrive in Israel for years.

"Long after, hopefully, the conflict in Gaza has been resolved," Miller said. 

Miller said the U.S. will continue its longstanding security relationship with Israel to help protect both countries from adversaries, like Iran.