2-4-2024 (GAZA) Five employees of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) non-governmental organization, including individuals from Poland, Australia, Britain, and one Palestinian, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza government media office on April 1.
The incident took place in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. WCK, in a statement posted on X, expressed awareness of the reports and called the incident a tragedy, emphasizing that humanitarian aid workers and civilians should never be targeted.
Hamas, the Islamist group governing Gaza, condemned the attack, stating that it aimed to intimidate workers of international humanitarian agencies and discourage them from carrying out their missions.
The Israeli military responded by stating that it was conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. The military emphasized its efforts to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, highlighting its close cooperation with WCK in providing food and aid to the people of Gaza.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the death of Australian aid worker Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom and called for those responsible to be held accountable. He condemned the incident as a human tragedy that should never have occurred and expressed Australia’s demand for full accountability. Albanese also called for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and increased aid to alleviate the suffering of the population.
Video footage obtained by Reuters showed paramedics transporting bodies to a hospital and displaying the passports of three of the victims.
WCK, founded by Chef Jose Andres in 2010, delivers food relief and prepares meals for those in need. The organization has provided over 42 million meals in Gaza over a period of 175 days.
Chef Jose Andres expressed his grief and heartbreak for the families and friends of those who died in the airstrike. He called on the Israeli government to cease indiscriminate killing, lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, stop targeting civilians and aid workers, and refrain from using food as a weapon. He emphasized the need to prioritize peace and shared humanity.
In addition to the WCK incident, Palestinian health officials reported that a separate Israeli airstrike on a house in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah resulted in the death of six people. The city of Rafah is currently hosting over a million Palestinians seeking shelter.
