The father of Jacob Flickinger, a US-Canadian aid worker killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes, has spoken out about the tragedy and called for an end to the violence. John Flickinger received a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offering condolences for the loss of his son, who was just 33 years old. During the conversation, Mr. Flickinger expressed his belief that if the US threatened to suspend aid to Israel, his son might still be alive today. Jacob Flickinger had been volunteering in Gaza with World Central Kitchen, helping distribute food to Palestinians in need.

The Israeli airstrike that killed Jacob Flickinger and six other aid workers has been described as a "grave mistake" by Israeli officials. They admitted to poor communication and attention to detail, leading to the tragic incident. However, Mr. Flickinger believes that the strike was a deliberate attempt to intimidate aid workers and disrupt humanitarian efforts in the region. World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore condemned the attack, calling it an assault on organizations providing crucial aid in conflict zones.

In addition to his call with Secretary Blinken, Mr. Flickinger shared that the Canadian government has offered financial support to Jacob Flickinger's partner, Sandy Leclerc, and their one-year-old son. The family is making arrangements to bring Jacob's remains back to Quebec, where he and his partner had started a new life before he began his humanitarian work in Gaza. Jacob Flickinger is remembered as a dedicated father, partner, and aid worker who died while serving others in need.

The United States has indicated that future policy towards Israel will be influenced by their actions in protecting aid workers and civilians in Gaza. President Joe Biden has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the relationship between the two countries may change if the Israeli Defense Forces do not show more care for Gaza civilians. Mr. Flickinger remains hopeful that the US will take meaningful action to address the situation and prevent further tragedies like the one that took his son's life.