World Central Kitchen identifies workers who died
U.S. food aid charity World Central Kitchen identified the seven members of its staff killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, amid growing international condemnation over the attack.
Six of those killed when their convoy was hit were foreign nationals including dual U.S.-Canadian Jacob Flickinger, 33, Britons John Chapman, 57, James Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom, 43, and Polish national Damian Sobol, 35, WCK said in a news release Tuesday.
Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutahas, aged 25, was the seventh victim.
CEO Erin Gore described the slain workers as “the heroes of World Central Kitchen.”
U.S. food aid charity World Central Kitchen identified the seven members of its staff killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, amid growing international condemnation over the attack.
Six of those killed when their convoy was hit were foreign nationals including dual U.S.-Canadian Jacob Flickinger, 33, Britons John Chapman, 57, James Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom, 43, and Polish national Damian Sobol, 35, WCK said in a news release Tuesday.
Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutahas, aged 25, was the seventh victim.
CEO Erin Gore described the slain workers as “the heroes of World Central Kitchen.”
“These 7 beautiful souls were killed by the IDF in a strike as they were returning from a full day’s mission. 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,” Gore said.
“We are reeling from our loss. The world’s loss.”
Arrangements are being made to repatriate the remains of the foreign nationals via Egypt.
The Britons, all exmarines, were providing security for the marked three-vehicle convoy on Monday as it left Deir al-Balah warehouse in central Gaza where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of food shipped in on a recently established international maritime route from Cyprus.
The convoy was on a designated aid route in a “de-conflicted zone” and WCK had coordinated its movements with the IDF which says the attack was a “tragic” mistake.
Britain summoned the Israeli Ambassador to the Foreign Office for an explanation while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to demand an investigation into what happened.