KUALA LUMPUR: Palestinian ambassador to Malaysia His Excellency Walid Abu Ali has questioned the discrepancy in the international community's reaction towards a recent Israeli strike which killed seven aid workers in Gaza on Monday.
While conveying condolences to the families of the seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers, he said their tragic deaths have garnered much attention from the governments the world over.
However, he said the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians prior to the Israeli attack on the WCK convoy seemed to be accepted without a similar outcry.
He said the United States in particular should have been condemning Israel for the atrocities which have led to more than 33,000 Palestinians killed so far.
The dead WCK workers included citizens of Australia, Britain and Poland as well as Palestinians and a dual citizenship holder from the United States and Canada.
Walid said there should have been a more balanced response by the international community towards the violence happening in Gaza. He urged the US to be more strict with the actions committed by Israel.
"Killing is killing. Whether it's Canadians, Americans, Palestinians or any other nationality.
"Why is the international community focused so much on the killing of these seven members of a humanitarian aid provider?
"I do sympathise with them and I'm against that (attack). Don't misunderstand and misinterpret what I say. But what is most important for (US) President (Joe) Biden and his administration is to be brave enough and condemn what the Israelis are doing against Palestinians," he told the New Straits Times Beyond The Headlines programme today.
Walid said many nations have not shown any condemnation over Israeli atrocities until the incident involving WCK.
"I noticed the reaction of the American administration and many other governments and countries.
"The killing of these seven individuals meant a lot to the international community. But the 33,000 Palestinians killed were accepted?"
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that it had mistakenly killed the seven people working for the aid charity in a Gaza airstrike, prompting the US and other allies to call for explanations amid widespread condemnation.
Today, Biden had also given Netanyahu an ultimatum to protect Palestinian civilians and foreign aid workers in Gaza or Washington could rein in support for Israel in its war against Palestine.
WCK was founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. Its staff were travelling in two armoured cars displayed with the charity's logo and another vehicle, which had previously coordinated their movements with the Israeli military.