Gaza: A suspected Israeli airstrike led to the tragic loss of seven humanitarian workers, including six from the World Central Kitchen, and their Palestinian driver. This incident may significantly impact the ongoing endeavors to provide essential aid via sea to Gaza, where Israel’s conflict with Hamas has brought thousands of Palestinians extremely close to experiencing severe hunger.
The charitable organization, established by renowned chef José Andrés, announced an immediate halt in its operations within the area. On Monday evening, the cause of the fire remained unverified independently. The Israeli military expressed genuine regret over the fatalities, but did not explicitly admit fault.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the leading military spokesperson, announced that senior officials are thoroughly examining the incident. He assured that an independent inquiry will be initiated to help minimize the possibility of a similar occurrence in the future.
The video captured the bodies, some dressed in protective clothing displaying the charity’s emblem, at a hospital in Deir al-Balah, a central town in Gaza. Among the deceased were three individuals from the United Kingdom, an Australian, a Polish national, and an individual holding both American and Canadian citizenship, as per hospital records.
While working together with the Israeli Defense Force, the convoy encountered an incident as it departed from its Deir Al-Balah warehouse. This happened after they had unloaded over 100 tons of humanitarian food aid, which was brought to Gaza via sea, according to WCK.
Erin Gore, World Central Kitchen’s CEO, stated, “This incident not only targets WCK, but also threatens humanitarian organizations that respond in the gravest of circumstances, where food becomes a tool of war. Such actions are truly unforgivable.”
We have received information about incidents where individuals from the World Central Kitchen team were unfortunately killed during an IDF attack. They were diligently working to provide food assistance in Gaza as part of our humanitarian efforts. This is a heartbreaking event. It is crucial to understand that humanitarian aid workers and innocent civilians must NEVER be targeted. Under no circumstances should such attacks occur.
The Israeli Defense Forces are conducting a comprehensive review at the top levels to examine the details of an unfortunate event they refer to as a tragic incident. In order to ensure the safe distribution of humanitarian aid, the IDF has been collaborating closely with World Central Kitchen in their essential mission to supply food and essential aid to the people of Gaza.
Andres, who initiated World Central Kitchen in 2010 by providing culinary assistance and food relief to Haiti following an earthquake, previously expressed his deep sorrow and mourning for the bereaved families and friends of the victims. He passionately voiced his concerns on social media, stating:
“The Israeli government must cease its indiscriminate violence.”
He further urged them to halt the restriction of humanitarian aid, protect civilians and aid workers, and refrain from weaponizing food. Emphasizing the importance of preserving innocent lives, Andres called for peace to begin with our shared humanity, insisting that the time for change is now.
In response, the Islamist organization Hamas declared that the attack was aimed at instilling fear among workers of international humanitarian organizations, thereby discouraging them from carrying out their missions.
Countries demand explanations from Israel
The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has announced the tragic death of a 44-year-old aid worker, Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom. He has reached out to the Israeli government, demanding those responsible for this incident be held accountable. Albanese described this event as a “human tragedy” and emphasized the necessity of accountability. He also addressed the importance of safeguarding innocent civilians and humanitarian workers. Furthermore, he urged for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and increased aid to alleviate the suffering of those experiencing immense hardship.
In response to the death of a Polish volunteer in Gaza, Poland’s foreign minister has sought “urgent explanations” from the Israeli ambassador in Warsaw. The minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and all civilian victims in the Gaza Strip, while awaiting the investigation results from Israel.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged Israel to promptly clarify the circumstances surrounding the deaths of World Central Kitchen aid workers. “I demand that the Israeli government swiftly elucidate the details of this brutal attack, which tragically claimed the lives of seven dedicated aid workers,” Sanchez stated following his visit to the Jabal el-Hussein camp for Palestinian refugees in Amman.
Video footage captured by Reuters depicted paramedics transferring bodies to a hospital and exhibiting the passports of three deceased individuals. Expressing sorrow and concern, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson emphasized the importance of protecting humanitarian aid workers and called for a swift investigation into the incident.
In response to the tragedy, WCK announced an immediate halt to its operations in the region and pledged to determine the future course of its work. The organization, known for providing food relief and preparing meals for those in need, had recently served over 42 million meals in Gaza over a span of 175 days.
WCK facilitated the inaugural aid shipment to Gaza through a maritime route from Cyprus in March. Following this, a subsequent delivery of 332 tons of aid reached Gaza earlier this week. Since its establishment in 2010, the organization has been dedicated to providing assistance, including food provisions for communities affected by natural disasters, support for refugees at the US border, aid for healthcare workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and assistance for individuals affected by conflicts in regions such as Ukraine and Gaza.
