The World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, made an announcement on Tuesday regarding its decision to halt all operations in Gaza.
This decision comes after seven of its food aid workers were tragically killed by an Israeli airstrike, which the organization deemed "unforgivable."
According to the group, the incident occurred on Monday when their team, traveling in two armored cars with the WCK logo, came under fire in central Gaza.
The attack resulted in the deaths of a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, a Palestinian worker, and others from Australia, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Israel's chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, expressed regret over the incident, stating, "Last night, an incident took place in Gaza that resulted in the tragic death of World Central Kitchen employees as they fulfilled their vital mission of bringing food to people in need. As a professional military committed to international law, we are committed to examining our operations thoroughly and transparently."
World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore described the attack as not only an assault against WCK but also as an attack on humanitarian organizations providing aid in war-torn regions. She emphasized that using food as a weapon of war is unforgivable.
Despite coordinating movements with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid had been unloaded.
As a result of the incident, World Central Kitchen has decided to pause its operations in the region, with plans to make further decisions about its work in the near future.
The U.S. National Security Council expressed deep sorrow over the strike, urging Israel to swiftly investigate the matter.
Hagari, in a video statement, conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and reiterated Israel's commitment to assisting those in need.
He also announced that a probe would be launched to examine the incident further.
Hagari acknowledged WCK as one of the first NGOs to come to Israel's aid following an attack by Hamas on October 7, which marked the beginning of the ongoing war.