The World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, has announced that it is pausing all operations in Gaza after seven of its food aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The group’s team was traveling in a deconflicted zone in central Gaza when they came under fire, resulting in the tragic deaths of workers from the U.S., Canada, Palestine, Australia, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Israel’s chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, expressed condolences for the incident and stated that an investigation will be conducted to understand the circumstances of the attack. World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore described the incident as an “attack on humanitarian organizations” and announced that operations in the region will be paused immediately.
The White House National Security Council has also expressed deep concern over the strike and urged Israel to swiftly investigate the matter. The World Central Kitchen has been praised for its humanitarian work in the region and was one of the first NGOs to respond following a previous attack.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, as the international community mourns the loss of the dedicated aid workers. The World Central Kitchen’s vital mission of providing food to those in need has been put on hold as the organization grapples with the devastating loss.
