Israel-Hamas War Day 178: What is going on in Gaza, Lebanon?

Israel must do more to protect innocent lives in Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said as he expressed his profound sorrow over Israel’s unintentional killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers during an IDF airstrike early Tuesday morning.

 “We shouldn’t have a situation where people who are simply trying to help their fellow human beings are themselves at grave risk,” Blinken stated.

 The Biden administration has “spoken directly to the Israeli Government about this particular incident,” Blinken said in Paris during a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne.

 “We’ve urged a swift, thorough, impartial investigation to understand exactly what happened. 

 As we have throughout this conflict, we've impressed upon the Israelis the absolute imperative of doing more to protect innocent civilian lives, be they Palestinian children, women, and men or be they aid workers, as well as to get more humanitarian assistance to more people more effectively,” Blinken stressed.

The seven aid workers who were struck down while delivering food “join a record number of humanitarian workers who have been killed in this particular conflict,” Blinken stated.

 “These people are heroes. They run into the fire, not away from it. They show the best of what humanity has to offer when the going really gets tough. They have to be protected,” he stressed.

Britain on Tuesday summoned the Israeli ambassador over the deaths of aid workers in Gaza, the foreign ministry said.

"I set out the Government's unequivocal condemnation of the appalling killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including three British Nationals," Britain's Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said.

"I requested a quick and transparent investigation, shared with the international community, and full accountability."

David Cameron speaks to Israel Katz

Separately, Foreign Secretary David Cameron posted on X that he had spoken with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, to underline that the deaths were "completely unacceptable."

I spoke with Israeli FM @Israel_Katz to underline that the deaths of @WCKitchen aid workers in Gaza, including three British Nationals, are completely unacceptable.

Israel must urgently explain how this happened & make major changes to ensure safety of aid workers on the ground.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) April 2, 2024

"Israel must urgently explain how this happened and make major changes to ensure safety of aid workers on the ground," Cameron said in the post.

Police found an improvised firearm, along with ammunition and cash, in the Palestinian town of Eizariya in the West Bank, Police Spokesperson said on Tuesday.

IDF troops fought in the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, carrying out precise and targeted raids on terrorist infrastructure in the neighborhood, the military said on Tuesday. 

During these operations, the forces found many weapons, including RPG missiles, munitions, and Kalashnikovs, and killed dozens of terrorists. 

In addition, the IDF added that in the past few days, troops of the Egoz unit arrested dozens of terrorists in the Nasser Hospital, who were subsequently transferred to the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) for further investigation.

Furthermore, troops searched the area of the Nasser and the Al Amal hospitals to ascertain the Hamas terrorists did not return to establish their infrastructures there. 

IDF announces doctor in reserve severely wounded

The IDF announced on Tuesday that a reserve doctor in the Commandor formation was seriously wounded on Sunday in combat in the southern Gaza Strip.

The doctor was evacuated to the hospital for further medical treatment. 

Britain on Tuesday summoned the Israeli ambassador over the deaths of aid workers in Gaza, the foreign ministry said.

Turkey on Tuesday condemned what it called an Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus and warned that the incident could lead to a broader conflict in the region.

The foreign ministry said the attack was a violation of international law by Israel, of which it has been harshly critical of over its assault on Gaza. It called for restraint, common sense, and respect for laws from all parties.

The family of Sgt.-Maj. Sivan Weil, an IDF soldier from Commando Brigade’s Egoz unit who died on Sunday from his injuries obtained in an attack in Gaza, donated his organs to save the lives of five critically ill Israelis.

His parents stated that this “donation helped to perpetuate the memory of our angel.” They continued, “Sivan was exceptionally strong with a heart of gold.

He saved many people’s lives during his military service. We hope his organ donation will continue saving people’s lives."

Sivan had a 'heart of gold'

At the start of the week, Sivan’s heart was transplanted to a 45-year-old patient suffering from kidney failure, and his lungs were transplanted to a 40-year-old patient suffering from liver failure.

Other organ donations included one of his kidneys, which was transplanted to a 66-year-old patient, and a kidney, as well as a heart valve, which was transplanted to a 48-year-old patient.

Weil was initially hospitalized in critical condition following an RPG attack in Khan Younis on Friday but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

A reserve doctor in the Commandor formation was seriously wounded on Sunday in combat in the southern Gaza Strip, the military said on Tuesday.

The doctor was evacuated to the hospital for further medical treatment. 

A worrying 38% of female prison guards say they've been sexually assaulted by Palestinian security prisoners, a report of Israel Prison Service's operations in 2022 and published on Tuesday revealed.

As such, Israel’s State Comptroller, Matanyahu Englman, criticized on Tuesday the IDF for reportedly ordering female Cadets in Officers' Course to guard Nukhba terrorists.

Englman said such orders were in stark contrast with the 2022 female soldiers' protection report. 

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned an attack on Iran's diplomatic premises in Damascus, calling on "all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and avoid further escalation," his spokesperson said.

"He cautions that any miscalculation could lead to a broader conflict in an already volatile region, with devastating consequences for civilians who are already seeing unprecedented suffering in Syria, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the broader Middle East," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.