US has no plans for independent probe into aid workers’ killings

WASHINGTON: White House National Security Spokersperson John Kirby said on Friday there are no plans by the United States (US) to conduct an independent investigation into the killings of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers.

Read more: World Central Kitchen chef says Israel targeted his aid workers ‘systematically, car by car’

Kirby told reporters that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had briefed President Joe Biden in their phone call on Thursday on the general findings of Israel’s inquiry into the incident.

Earlier, a sea convoy carrying food for Gaza returned to Cyprus after aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Monday.

The cargo ship, with 240 tonnes of food, arrived back in Larnaca, along with another ship owned by a Spanish NGO. This aid was part of a larger shipment sent from Cyprus on March 30 and aimed to support Gaza. WCK is present in Gaza since October but had to pause operations after the Israeli attack and redirected its ships back to Cyprus.