Antony Blinken said he was “outraged” by the Israeli strike that killed seven aid workers in Gaza on Monday, and that he “strongly” condemns it.

He said the US’s conviction remains to see an immediate ceasefire to enable the release of hostages, and to enable a dramatic surge in humanitarian assistance, as well as better protecting civilians.

It is our expectation that Israel will and certainly should announce concrete, specific, measurable steps that it will take and take as soon as possible to make sure that there can be an effective surge and assistance that it can be sustained and that humanitarian workers and civilians are better protected.

Asked what aspects of US policy with respect to Gaza could change if Israel does not taken immediate concrete steps, Antony Blinken did not expand. He said:

If we don’t see the changes that we need to see, there’ll be changes in policy.

Antony Blinken said the current reality in Gaza is that “despite important steps that Israel has taken to allow assistance into Gaza”, the results on the ground are “woefully insufficient and unacceptable”.

Humanitarian workers bringing aid into Gaza are doing so “heroically … in great peril to their own lives”, he said.

This week’s horrific attack on World Central Kitchen was not the first such incident. It must be the last.

Blinken: Biden told Netanyahu strikes on aid workers in Gaza ‘unacceptable’

Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu also “discussed public Iranian threats against Israel and the Israeli people”, the White House said.

Biden “made clear that the US strongly supports Israel in the face of those threats”, it said.

Biden told Netanyahu that US support depends on Israel’s immediate new steps in Gaza – White House

The White House has confirmed that a phone call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu has ended.

A readout of the call will be issued soon, it said.

The call between the two leaders lasted less than 30 minutes, Reuters reported, citing a White House official.

Georgia judge rejects Trump free speech challenge to election interference case

A phone call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu has ended after about 45 minutes, the Times of Israel is reporting.

We’ll bring you more information as soon as we hear it.

Elizabeth Warren said that she would block the sale of F-15s to Israel after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers, the Hill reported.

The Massachusetts senator said that Congress had a “responsibility to act” and accused Israel of violating laws that require an access to humanitarian relief, during an interview with CNN News Central.

I think it is clear that Congress has a responsibility to act. We have legal tools here. And as I said, we cannot approve the sale of arms to a country that is in violation of our own laws on this. And that includes access to humanitarian relief…This is a moral question, it is also a legal question. Congress has responsibility here and I’m willing to take that responsibility…

Warren did not confirm if she is putting legislation on the floor to block any potential sale.

When asked, Warren said:

Actually, let’s put this in a slightly different context. We already have an established U.S. policy here.

Warren’s comments come as the US is preparing to sell Israel up to 50 F-15 fighter jets, 30 medium-range Air-to-Air Missiles, and other weapons, the Hill reported.

Biden and Netanyahu speaking now in first call since aid workers were killed

It is unclear if Biden’s outrage at the killing of aid workers by Israeli strikes will cause him to put conditions on weapons sent to Israel.

The White House has not confirmed if Biden’s fury at the situation will lead to consequences for Israel, the New York Times reported.

But Biden has harshly criticized Israel ahead of a call between Biden and Netanyahu scheduled for Thursday. Following the air strike against the World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy, Biden said that Israel “has not done enough to protect aid workers,” the Times reported.

Other Democrats have more clearly called for Biden to “[change] course” after the killing of WCK relief workers.

“I hope this will be the moment where the president changes course,” said Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic Senator from Maryland, to the Times.

“Netanyahu ignored the president’s requests, and yet we send 2,000-pound bombs with no restrictions on their use,” he added.

But Democratic leaders have declined to call for restrictions on arms to Israel.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, declined to support a limit on the use of weapons, later refusing to discuss the topic with the Times.

Read the full analysis from the Times here (paywall).

The World Central Kitchen (WCK) was one of few aid organizations permitted by Israeli authorities to deliver food to northern Gaza and has brought hundreds of tonnes of food aid into the Palestinian territory.

On Monday night, a convoy of three armored cars belonging to WCK was attacked while leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah.

According to a report in the Israeli daily Haaretz, an Israeli drone fired three missiles at the convoy of three armored cars – all of which were clearly marked on the roof and sides with the WCK’s logo – as they travelled back along a route pre-approved and coordinated with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

An Hermes 450 drone struck one car, causing some of the passengers to abandon it and switch to the other two vehicles. According to Haaretz, the team notified the IDF they had been attacked, but another missile then hit the second car.

Passengers in the third car tried to help the wounded, the newspaper said. According to the Guardian’s geolocation of the strikes, the last car was hit by a third missile about a mile farther south.

Video obtained by Reuters showed a large hole in the roof of a four-wheel-drive WCK vehicle and its burnt and torn interior, as well as paramedics moving bodies into a hospital and displaying the passports of three of those killed.

The seven victims were named by WCK as Britons John Chapman, 57, James Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, who were working for the charity’s security team. The team’s leader, Lalzawmi (Zomi) Frankcom, 43, an Australian national, also died, along with American-Canadian dual citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33, Polish national Damian Sobol, 35, and Palestinian Saif Issam Abu Taha, 25.

Ahead of an expected call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu today, Israel has said it will “adjust our practices” after seven aid workers working for World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza on Monday.

Asked to respond to comments by WCK founder José Andrés, who has said he believes his workers were “systematically” targeted by Israel Defense Forces, Israeli government spokesperson Raquela Karamson said:

This was unintended … In the coming weeks, as the findings become clear, we will be transparent and share the results with the public.

Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, she added:

Clearly something went wrong here, and as we learn more and the investigation reveals exactly what happened, and the cause of what happened, we will certainly adjust our practices in the future to make sure this does not happen again.

The Israeli government had previously confirmed its military had carried out “an unintended strike”, with Israeli defense sources saying that the aid workers’ vehicles had been hit three times by missiles because of erroneous suspicions that a terrorist was traveling with the convoy.

Andrés has insisted that his team was in clear communication with the Israeli military, which he said knew his aid workers’ movements, and that the convoy “had signs in the top, in the roof, a very colorful logo … [it is] very clear who we are and what we do.”