Cyprus president says Cyprus to Gaza corridor will continue to operate

LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) - Cyprus's president on Tuesday urged an immediate investigation into the killing of seven aid workers in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, saying the U.S.-based charity they were members of was a "crucial partner" in efforts to get aid to the enclave by sea.

"We need to double down on efforts to get aid to Gaza," Nikos Christodoulides said, after a meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

An Israeli strike hit a convoy carrying a World Central Kitchen team which had just unloaded more than 100 tons of food aid brought to Gaza via the maritime route from Cyprus. Citizens from Australia, Poland and Britain were among the victims.

The charity said it was pausing operations in the region with immediate effect. WCK has been active in Gaza since October, bringing food by land routes and also participating in air drops.

Earlier this month, it launched an inaugural sea corridor transporting aid to the enclave from Cyprus. A second convoy of ships taking just over 300 tonnes of aid left Cyprus last weekend.

"The Amalthea initiative will continue as long as the humanitarian needs are there," Christodoulides said, referring to the maritime route.

(Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Alex Richardson and Bernadette Baum)