Seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen were tragically killed in the Gaza Strip on Monday night when their convoy came under fire. The disaster relief organization, founded by renowned chef José Andrés, stated that the convoy was hit in an Israeli strike. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel expressed his condolences, referring to the incident as a “tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people.”
The convoy, consisting of three vehicles, had just left a food warehouse in Deir al Balah when it was attacked. The aid workers had recently unloaded over 100 tons of food brought to Gaza by sea. Videos and photos verified by The New York Times show the extent of the damage, with all three vehicles bearing the World Central Kitchen logo.
Among the victims were six foreign citizens and a Palestinian, including individuals from the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain, Gaza, and Poland. Tributes poured in for the aid workers, highlighting their dedication to serving others in times of crisis.
The prime minister of Australia identified one of the victims as Zomi Frankcom, an Australian citizen and senior manager at World Central Kitchen. Additionally, British foreign secretary David Cameron confirmed the deaths of three British citizens who were former Royal Marines turned volunteers.
The tragic incident has sparked calls for a transparent investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. Humanitarian workers in the region face significant risks, with at least 196 aid workers killed in Gaza and the West Bank in recent months.
Prime Minister Netanyahu appeared to take responsibility for the unintentional attack, promising a thorough investigation to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The World Central Kitchen aid ship, which had delivered crucial supplies to Gaza, is now headed back to Cyprus as the organization mourns the loss of their dedicated team members.
