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Doctors Without Borders has rejected President Barack Obama's apology after the United States bombed the group's hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz killing 22, while 33 remain missing.
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The international medical organization is also insisting on an independent and international investigation into what it calls a war crime.
"Governments up to now have been too polite or afraid to set a precedent," Dr. Joanne Liu, president of Doctors Without Borders told CNN. "The tool exists, and it is time it is activated."
Liu said Obama's apologies are simply not enough, what is needed is an independent investigation.
"We reiterate our request that the United States government consent to an independent investigation led by the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission to establish what happened in Kunduz, how it happened, and why it happened," Liu added.
U.S. military officials claim the airstrike on the hospital was carried out because they believed members of the Taliban were hiding there. The bombing killed 12 Doctors Without Borders medics and 10 patients, including three children.
“The tragedy is the biggest loss of life for our organization in an airstrike," Liu said. Doctors Without Borders, known as MSF, decided to close down their hospital in Kunduz, while it's considering its presence in Afghanistan all together.
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"The overwhelmingly shocking nature of the event forces us to take stock of our work in Afghanistan generally and to carefully weigh the safety and security of our staff and patients," said MSF General Director Christopher Stokes, who called the incident a U.S. war crime.
He also said their continuance in the country will be based on their ability to work under full respect to humanitarian law.
The White House recently said in a statement that Obama personally spoke with Liu over the phone to apologize and express his condolences.
"During the call, President Obama expressed regret over the tragic incident and offered his thoughts and prayers on behalf of the American people to the victims, their families, and loved ones," the statement read, adding that the Department of Defense will be carrying out a "transparent, thorough, and objective accounting of the facts and circumstances of the incident."
But Liu replied saying that it is not enough that the U.S. carries out its own investigation.
After Washington denied the independent inquiry MSF is requesting, the commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Campbell, insisted that the airstrike was an accident.
"If errors were committed, we will acknowledge them," he said, while promising, "We will hold those responsible accountable, and we will take steps to ensure mistakes are not repeated."
The U.S. head of MSF, Jason Cone, criticized the “changing of stories” regarding the airstrike, as the U.S. had initially denied the attack, then said Afghan officials requested it and finally admitting their responsibility. He said the lies and distortions of facts underscores the need for an independent inquiry.
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"In Kunduz, our patients burned in their beds, our doctors, nurses and other staff were killed as they worked, our colleagues had to operate on each other. One of our doctors died on an improvised operating table, an office desk, while his colleagues tried to save his life," Cone said.
The attack on the hospital has shocked the international community and angered aid groups worldwide.
On Thursday, MSF representative in Afghanistan Guilhem Linie said that apart from the 22 fatalities, there are 33 people still missing. He added that 24 are staff members and nine are patients.
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