Biden 'outraged' by Israeli strike that killed aid workers in Gaza

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he was "outraged and heartbroken" by the killing of seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers, delivering some of his strongest criticism of Israel since the start of its war with Hamas.

"This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed," Biden said in a statement. "This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult — because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians.

"Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen. Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians," he added.

On Monday, an Israeli airstrike killed seven humanitarian workers from the relief organization World Central Kitchen, including a dual U.S. citizen. More than 200 aid workers have been killed in the war since it began on Oct. 7, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday.

Biden added that he would "continue to press Israel to do more to facilitate" humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

The president's statement — his first comments about the aid workers who were killed Monday — comes as he faces growing criticism from progressives, Arab Americans and Muslims over his handling of the war. Some critics have urged Americans to “abandon Biden” at the ballot box or vote "uncommitted" in primaries to protest the administration's actions.

Criticism of Biden’s handling of the war has been especially stark in states like Michigan, a swing state that has a large Arab American population. It could be critical part of a path to the White House. Biden won Michigan narrowly in 2020, while Donald Trump won it