Air strike kills seven aid workers in Gaza
● Israel promises independent investigation amid global outrage
Citizens from Australia, Britain and Poland were among seven people working for celebrity chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen who were killed in an Israeli air strike in central Gaza on Monday, the NGO said.
The workers, who also included Palestinians and a dual citizen of the US and Canada, were travelling in two armoured cars emblazoned with the WCK logo and another vehicle, WCK said in a statement.
Despite co-ordinating movements with the Israeli Defence Force, the convoy was hit as it was leaving its Deir al-Balah warehouse, after unloading more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza by sea, WCK said.
“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organisations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war,” WCK CEO Erin Gore said. “This is unforgivable.” The Israeli military said it was doing a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of what it called a tragic incident and pledged an investigation by “an independent, professional and expert body”.
“The IDF makes extensive efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, and has been working closely with WCK in their vital efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the military said.
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said he had spoken to the WCK founder and expressed deepest condolences.
“We also express sincere sorrow to our allied nations who have been doing and continue to do so much to assist those in need,” he said.
The UN and other international groups have accused Israel of hindering aid distribution with bureaucratic obstacles and failing to ensure the security of food convoys, underlined by a disaster on February 29, in which about 100 people were killed as they waited for an aid delivery.
Hamas said in a statement the attack aimed to terrorise workers of international humanitarian agencies, deterring them from their missions.
Last week, the World Court ordered Israel to take all necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies to the enclave’s Palestinian population and halt spreading famine.
In response, Israeli officials accused the UN and other international bodies of “failure” over the problems in getting aid to hungry people in Gaza, saying they lack the logistical capacity to perform their jobs.
Andres, who started WCK in 2010 by sending cooks and food to Haiti after an earthquake, earlier said he was heartbroken and grieving for the families and friends of those who died.
“The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing,” he said on social media.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the death of 44-year-old aid worker Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom and said his government had contacted Israel to demand those responsible be held accountable.
“This is a human tragedy that should never have occurred, that is completely unacceptable and Australia will seek full and proper accountability,” he told a press conference.
Albanese said innocent civilians and humanitarian workers needed to be protected and reiterated his call for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza along with more aid to help those suffering from “tremendous deprivation”.
Poland, which also lost a citizen, said it objected to the “disregard for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers”.
Video obtained by Reuters showed a large hole in the roof of a WCK vehicle and its burnt and torn interior.
“We are heartbroken and deeply troubled by the strike that killed @WCKitchen aid workers in Gaza,” US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said on social media.
“Humanitarian aid workers must be protected ... and we urge Israel to swiftly investigate what happened.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on Israel to investigate and provide an explanation. British foreign minister David Cameron said earlier Britain had called on Israel to immediately investigate and provide a “full, transparent explanation of what happened”.
WCK said it was pausing its operations in the region and would decide soon about the future of its work.