Israeli Airstrike Kills 7 World Central Kitchen Aid Workers in Gaza

World Central Kitchen, an aid group delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza, tragically reported that seven of its aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The incident occurred despite coordination with the Israeli military (IDF) and while the workers were in vehicles clearly marked with the World Central Kitchen logo, moving through a designated safe zone.

Prior to the airstrike, the aid workers had successfully delivered over 100 tons of food aid to a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, a city in southern Gaza. Among the deceased were individuals from diverse nationalities, including Australia, Poland, Britain, Palestine, and a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.

In response to the attack, World Central Kitchen promptly suspended its operations in the region and announced that it would evaluate the future of its work in Gaza. The confirmation of the aid workers’ deaths came after disturbing footage circulated on social media, showing their bodies clad in protective gear with World Central Kitchen logos. Some passports recovered from the scene identified the victims as British, Polish, and Australian workers.

While the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that at least one Palestinian was also killed in the strike, it remains unclear if this individual was among the seven identified by World Central Kitchen. The incident has sparked outrage, with Jose Andres, the founder of World Central Kitchen and a renowned Spanish-American chef, condemning the Israeli government for what he described as indiscriminate killings and the use of food as a weapon.

In response to the growing concerns, the Israeli military has announced that it will conduct a thorough review of the incident. They stated that they make extensive efforts to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and have been closely cooperating with World Central Kitchen in their vital efforts to provide food and aid to the people of Gaza.