White House 'outraged' by Israeli airstike that killed aid workers

The White House says it is "outraged" by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza that killed seven aid workers and demanded clarity on how the military operation unfolded.

"We were outraged to learn of an [Israel Defense Forces] strike that killed a number of civilian humanitarian workers yesterday from the World Central Kitchen," national security spokesman John Kirby said.

He said the White House expects Israel to quickly carry out an in-depth investigation.

"We hope that those findings will be made public and that there is appropriate accountability."

Kirby continued: "More than 200 aid workers have been killed in this conflict, making it one of the worst for aid workers in recent history. This incident is emblematic of a larger problem, and evidence of why distribution of aid in Gaza has been so challenging."

The White House said that President Joe Biden had called World Central Kitchen's founder, Spanish celebrity chef José Andrés, who lives in the US, to express his condolences.

"The president felt it was important to recognize the tremendous contribution World Central Kitchen has made to the people in Gaza, and people around the world," spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.