Israel facing backlash in aid workers’ deaths
WCK founder says workers were targeted ‘systematically’
Family members and government leaders of the seven World Central Kitchen members killed in an Israeli missile strike were pressing Israel for answers Wednesday as details of the attack began to emerge.
World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés said the workers were targeted “systematically, car by car,” and that the charity group had clear communication with the Israeli military, which knew the aid workers’ movements.
“This was not just a bad luck situation where ‘oops’ we dropped the bomb in the wrong place,” Andrés told Reuters Wednesday. “Even if we were not in coordination with the (Israel military), no democratic country and no military can be targeting civilians and humanitarians.”
The seven were killed Monday while traveling in a convoy from an aid warehouse in central Gaza. They were identified as Jacob Flinkinger, 33, a dual U.S.-Canada citizen; Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25; Laizawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, 43, of Australia; Damian Soból, 35, of Poland, and British nationals John Chapman, 57; James “Jim” Henderson, 33; and James Kirby, 47.
“These are the heroes of World Central Kitchen,” the organization’s CEO, Erin Gore, said in a statement. “Their smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in our memories. And we have countless memories of them giving their best selves to the world. We are reeling from our loss. The world’s loss.”
The bodies of six of the aid workers were transferred from Gaza across the Egyptian border to allow delegations from their home countries to receive them. The seventh victim, Abutaha,
was buried Tuesday in his hometown of Rafah.
Frankcom is being remembered fondly in
New York for her cooking and delivering meals with SOMOS Community Care in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ramon Tallaj, founder and chairman of SOMOS Community Care, told CBS News. “People were dying and she was preparing the food,” Tallaj said. “She was really a person that you could rely in difficult times. Some people say she was an angel.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Frankcom had previously volunteered during Australian brush fires and Monday had been providing aid to “people who are suffering tremendous deprivation” in Gaza. Albanese said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone Wednesday.
“I emphasized the importance of full accountability and transparency,” Albanese said. “Prime Minister Netanyahu has committed to full transparency about how this tragedy could possibly have occurred.”
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Garrison, USA TODAY; Reuters