Five aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK) were tragically killed while delivering food in Gaza on Monday. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office blamed Israel for the strike, although the Israeli military is currently investigating the incident.
The exact source of the strike has not been independently confirmed.
The Israeli military expressed its commitment to enabling the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and stated that it has been working closely with WCK to provide food and aid to the people of Gaza.
WCK acknowledged the reports of their team members being killed in an Israeli attack and emphasized that humanitarian aid workers and civilians should never be targeted.
We are aware of reports that members of the World Central Kitchen team have been killed in an IDF attack while working to support our humanitarian food delivery efforts in Gaza. This is a tragedy. Humanitarian aid workers and civilians should NEVER be a target. EVER.
—@WCKitchen
The Gaza government reported that among the dead were four foreigners and one Palestinian.
According to Mahmoud Thabet, a Palestinian Red Crescent paramedic, the aid workers were hit by an Israeli missile while in a convoy crossing out of northern Gaza.
Video footage from the hospital showed the bodies of the victims, some of whom were wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the death of Australian aid worker Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom and demanded accountability from Israel.
Hamas accused Israel of trying to terrorize workers of international humanitarian agencies with the attack.
A ship carrying aid and supplies has landed in Gaza shores for the first time since the latest war began, but humanitarian organizations say it’s a pittance of what is needed by the desperate population.
Group transported food from Cyprus
World Central Kitchen (WCK), founded by chef José Andrés in 2010, delivers food relief to communities in need during disasters or conflicts.
A flotilla of aid ships organized by WCK, Open Arms, and the United Arab Emirates arrived in Gaza from Cyprus carrying 400 tons of food and supplies on Monday. This was the group’s second shipment after a pilot run last month.
The Israeli military assisted in coordinating both deliveries, and the U.S. has supported the sea route as a new way to provide aid to northern Gaza.
WCK has served over 42 million meals in Gaza over 175 days, with teams distributing food to displaced Palestinians daily.
In a recent post on X, WCK highlighted their efforts in Gaza and the meals they prepare for those in need.
WCK teams mobilize across Gaza daily to distribute food to displaced Palestinians. Our 60+ kitchens in southern and central Gaza are cooking hundreds of thousands of meals each day like this mujadara, a comforting dish of rice, lentils, and caramelized onions.
Israel has prevented UNRWA, the main UN agency in Gaza, from delivering aid to the north due to the involvement of some UNRWA staff in the October 7 attacks on Israel. Other humanitarian organizations have deemed it too risky to send truck convoys to northern Gaza.
Last month, the UN-supported global authority on food security warned that famine could hit northern Gaza by May and potentially spread to the entire enclave of 2.3 million people by July.
Following the Oct. 7 militant attacks that resulted in 1,200 deaths and about 250 kidnappings, Israel declared war on Hamas. Israeli authorities believe that around 130 captives are still in Gaza, with some sources claiming at least 31 hostages have died.
Since then, over 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israel’s military response, according to health officials in the region, the majority of whom are women and children.
Chef José Andrés has recently returned from an airdrop mission to deliver food and medicine to the people in northern Gaza. He and his team have provided over 32 million meals in the region since the conflict escalated last month.
