7 aid workers killed in Israeli strike in Gaza
Washington, D.C., US - The World Central Kitchen (WCK) on Tuesday confirmed that its seven humanitarian aid workers were killed in Monday’s Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip.
“The WCK team was traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo and a soft skin vehicle,” the WCK said in a statement. Despite coordinating movements with the Israeli army, it added that the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route.
“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. This is unforgivable,” said WCK CEO Erin Gore. “I am heartbroken and appalled that we - WCK and the world - lost beautiful lives today because of a targeted attack by the IDF. The love they had for feeding people, the determination they embodied to show that humanity rises above all, and the impact they made in countless lives will
forever be remembered and cherished,” Gore said in the statement.
WCK pauses operations
The WCK announced that it is pausing operations ‘immedi
ately’ in the region. “We will be making decisions about the future of our work soon.”
The Israeli military, meanwhile, said it was conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of the ‘tragic’ inci
dent.
The US expressed sorrow on Monday over the killing of aid workers of the Us-based aid organisation.
“We are heartbroken and deeply troubled by the strike that killed @Wckitchen aid
workers in Gaza,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said on X, urging Israel to ‘swiftly’ investigate what happened.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on
Tuesday he sought direct communication with his Israeli counterpart over the killing of aid workers in Gaza, while there has been no contact yet.
“I have put in a request to Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu as well to speak with him directly,” Albanese told ABC News during an interview when asked whether Canberra had reached out to Tel Aviv in the wake of the killing of seven WCK members, including an Australian citizen.
Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom, an Australian aid worker, was among the seven killed while working for the WCK.
The other aid workers were from Poland, the UK, and Palestine, and another was a dual citizen of the US and Canada.
“No,” Albanese replied, when asked whether he had spoken to Netanyahu when this story was filed.
The Australian premier, however, said Canberra had put on notice the Israeli ambassador to Australia who ‘ isn’t well today’.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has “put in” calls to her Israeli counterpart too, he added.
Calling Frankcom’s killing a ‘loss for our nation’, Albanese said Australia stands for a political solution to the conflict with an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Albanese reiterated Australia’s demand for accountability from Israel over the killing of the Australian aid worker.
“Australia expects full accountability for the deaths of aid workers, which is completely unacceptable,” Albanese said.
WHO calls for protection
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) director-general on Tuesday called for the ‘sustained protection’ of humanitarian workers in Gaza.
“How many more lives will be lost until there’s a ceasefire? We are outraged by the killing of humanitarian workers in Gaza,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.
Stressing that safety is a basic requirement for the delivery of life-saving aid, Tedros extended his deepest condolences to the WCK team and affected families. “We once again call for the sustained protection of humanitarian workers across Gaza,” he said.