Seven employees of World Central Kitchen have been killed in an attack in Gaza, according to the organization. Those killed are both foreigners and from the Palestinian territories.
Published: 02/04/2024 07:48
The Hamas-run authorities announced late on Monday that at least five aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike against Deir al-Balah, which is in the middle of the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday morning, World Central Kitchen (WCK) confirmed that seven of their employees had been killed in an attack on the war-torn enclave.
– World Central Kitchen is devastated that seven members of our team have been killed in an IDF attack in Gaza. Those killed are from Australia, Poland, the UK, the USA, Canada and Palestine, says a statement from the organisation.
WCK built its own breakwater on the Gaza Strip to bring in emergency aid by sea. The first shipment entered the area on March 15, while the second arrived on Monday.
IDF: Tragic incident
The Israeli military (IDF) states that the incident will be investigated at the highest level and – refers to it as “this tragic incident”.
– The IDF is making extensive efforts to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and has worked closely with the WCK in their vital efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, says a message on X, formerly Twitter.
On https://twitter.com/chefjoseandres/status/1774947232539644286 writes WCK founder José Andrés that the organization has lost several of its employees in an airstrike carried out by the IDF.
– I am devastated and grieve with their families and friends and our entire WCK family. These are people – angels – with whom I have served in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, the Bahamas and Indonesia, says Andrés.
– Stop indiscriminate killings
– They are not faceless. They are not nameless. The Israeli government must stop these indiscriminate killings. It must stop limiting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers and stop using food as a weapon, the WCK summit continues.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday that one of those killed is Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom. He demands that the guilty must be held accountable.
WCK was founded in 2010 when Andrés, a Spanish-American chef and restaurant owner, sent cooks and food to earthquake-stricken Haiti. Since the start of the invasion of the Gaza Strip, WCK has delivered over 42 million meals.
