An apparent Israeli airstrike has resulted in the tragic deaths of six international aid workers affiliated with the World Central Kitchen (WCK) and their Palestinian driver, as reported by the charity on Tuesday.
This incident could potentially hinder efforts to deliver aid by sea to Gaza, where Israel’s offensive against Hamas has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians on the brink of starvation.
The food charity, founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, has announced an immediate suspension of operations in the region.
Footage from the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah showed the bodies of the aid workers, some wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo, at a hospital.
The victims include three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, and an American-Canadian dual citizen, according to hospital records.
The source of the attack on Monday night has not been independently confirmed.
The Israeli military has stated that it is conducting a review "to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident."
The charity stated that the team was traveling in a three-car convoy, including two armored vehicles. The workers' car was hit by an Israeli strike just after crossing from northern Gaza after delivering aid that had arrived hours earlier on a ship from Cyprus, according to Mahmoud Thabet, a paramedic from the Palestinian Red Crescent who was part of the team that brought the bodies to the hospital.
The aid ships that arrived on Monday carried approximately 400 tons of food and supplies in a shipment organized by the United Arab Emirates and the WCK.
Erin Gore, the CEO of the charity, condemned the attack, stating, "this is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war.
This is unforgivable."
WCK, known for delivering food relief and preparing meals for people in need, had served over 42 million meals in Gaza in the past month alone.
In response to the tragedy, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, 44, from Melbourne, in the airstrike.
He expressed his government's demand for those responsible to be held accountable, calling the incident a "human tragedy that should never have occurred."
Albanese emphasized the need to protect innocent civilians and humanitarian workers and reiterated his call for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza along with increased aid to alleviate the suffering of those facing "tremendous deprivation."