Israel continues to deny aid agency access

Let’s get you up to speed on the latest developments:

• Global outrage is growing over an Israeli air attack that killed seven aid workers in Gaza earlier this week, with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying the situation in Gaza has become “unbearable”.
• Contrary to Israel’s claims, an investigation by Al Jazeera’s Sanad verification agency has found that the Israeli attack was “intentional”.
• More overnight Israeli attacks in Gaza killed and injured dozens of civilians, including five in their homes in Khan Younis, according to the Wafa news agency.
• Israeli forces arrested 30 Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank, mostly in Ramallah and Jerusalem governorates.

• Polish prosecutors launch investigation into aid worker killing

  Prosecutors in Przemysl, where Polish aid worker Damian Sobol is from, are independently investigating the circumstances of his killing in Gaza, Deputy District Prosecutor Beata Starzecka has told Poland’s PAP press agency.

  Sobol, 35, was among seven aid workers killed by a succession of Israeli air strikes on their convoy in an attack that Poland’s prime minister said is putting Israel and Poland’s relations “to a hard test”.

  The Israeli military has called the attack a “mistake” and promised to investigate how it happened. An investigation by Al Jazeera’s Sanad verification agency has found the attack was intentional.

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• The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says Israel is continuing to block it from bringing food to northern Gaza, where hunger is most prevalent six months into the war.
  

  Israel blames Hezbollah for explosion that hurt UN peacekeepers

  Israel’s military, without providing evidence, has claimed a Hezbollah explosive was the source of a blast that injured three UN peacekeepers and their translator near the Lebanese border last week.

  Lebanese security sources earlier blamed Israel for the explosion, which set off near a patrol of the UN’s Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the village of Rmeish on March 30, but Israel’s military quickly denied responsibility.

  The UN peacekeeping force has condemned “the targeting of peacekeepers” and said it will investigate the origins of the explosion.

  US officials express doubt over Israeli claims on convoy killings: Report

  American officials, speaking anonymously to US news outlet Politico, expressed scepticism at Israeli claims that the aid worker killings were “unintentional” and whether those responsible would be held to account.

  One unnamed administration official, who previously worked with World Central Kitchen founder Joe Andres, highlighted the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a longtime correspondent with Al Jazeera.

  Overwhelming evidence shows that an Israeli soldier deliberately targeted Abu Akleh and shot her dead as she reported in the occupied West Bank two years ago. No Israeli troops have ever been punished for her murder, however.

  “[Israel will] do and say whatever is necessary to maintain the status quo, and I have little hope their investigation will be transparent or honest,” the official is quoted as saying.

  Noting that three missiles were used in the convoy attack, another American official said it appeared intentional. “Three hits on three cars in a row is not an accident. We aren’t stupid.”

  Canada wants full investigation into killing of aid workers

  Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has called for a full investigation into the killing of aid workers in Gaza, among them a Canadian citizen.

  Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, she said Israel needed to respect international law, adding Canada would make sure it does.

  Overnight Israeli attacks kill, injure dozens in Gaza: Report

  Israel’s latest attacks have killed and injured dozens of people from northern to southern Gaza, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency.

  Victims include:

  • Five killed and 10 wounded from Israeli shelling of homes in Khan Younis
  • Three killed from Israeli shelling of homes in Deir el-Balah
  • Numerous injured from Israeli shelling in Gaza City’s neighbourhoods of Sheikh Ijlin, Tal al-Hawa and Zeitoun.
    

    Who authorised the Israeli air strikes on the aid convoy in Gaza?

    Al Jazeera’s investigation into the deadly Israeli air strikes on the aid workers’ convoy shows three separate attacks on vehicles.

    Omar Ashour, a professor of military and security studies at the Doha Institute of Graduate Studies, says after the first two vehicles were hit, there had to be communication among the Israeli military before the third was targeted, indicating “an intentional issue there”.

    He said the great expense of the missiles used in the strikes “would need some command level” authorisation. However, he noted, the way the military operates, it may have been a less senior officer who ordered the strikes.