International aid workers from World Central Kitchen, a disaster relief nonprofit, were tragically killed in an airstrike in Gaza, according to José Andrés, the chef who founded the organization. The airstrike, which occurred in Deir al-Balah, a city in central Gaza, resulted in the deaths of several staff members of World Central Kitchen.
Graphic video footage from the aftermath showed five dead bodies, three of which had passports identifying them as citizens of Poland, Australia, and Britain. Some of the victims were wearing protective gear with visible World Central Kitchen patches. The nationalities of the other two victims could not be immediately confirmed.
The Israeli military, which was reported to have carried out the airstrike, stated that it is conducting a thorough review to understand the circumstances of the incident. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia expressed concern over the reports of an Australian aid worker being killed and stated that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was urgently investigating the matter.
World Central Kitchen has been a crucial source of food for desperate Gazans, as Israel has limited the aid that reaches Gaza through land crossings. The organization has been working to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, with a recent shipment of 400 tons of food leaving Cyprus for the enclave.
In a statement, World Central Kitchen expressed its sadness over the loss of its staff members and emphasized that humanitarian aid workers and civilians should never be targeted. José Andrés called on the Israeli government to stop the indiscriminate killing, restricting humanitarian aid, and using food as a weapon.
The international community has condemned the attack, with calls for a sustainable cease-fire and the protection of aid workers in conflict zones. The tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by those providing essential assistance in areas of conflict.
