Seven aid workers, including a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, tragically lost their lives in an alleged Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Their mission was to deliver much-needed food to the conflict-ridden territory.
The seven-member team comprised of personnel from the World Central Kitchen, a renowned food charity organization, and their Palestinian driver. They were part of a three-vehicle convoy that was departing from a warehouse located in northern Gaza. They had just offloaded over a hundred tons of food supplies when a missile struck them.
The source of this missile remains unconfirmed. However, both the Palestinian Red Crescent paramedic, Mahmoud Thabet, and World Central Kitchen have attributed the deaths to an Israeli airstrike, Report by the Associated Press.
The casualties included not just a dual US-Canadian citizen, but also citizens from Britain, Australia, and Poland. This information was shared by the celebrity chef José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen.
World Central Kitchen expressed its dismay over the incident, stating that their convoy was struck “despite coordinating movements” with the Israeli Defense Forces. The organization’s CEO, Erin Gore, decried the incident as an “attack against humanitarian organizations,” calling it “unforgivable.”
Among the victims was Zomi Frankcom, a 43-year-old from Melbourne, Australia. She was a manager for World Central Kitchen and was remembered fondly by her loved ones as a “hero.” The identities of the other victims have not been revealed yet, according to the Guardian.
The event elicited reactions from around the globe. The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, demanded “full accountability” for the tragic incident. The White House also expressed its concern, urging Israel to investigate the event swiftly.
The northern region of Gaza is facing a severe famine as Israeli forces have prevented UNRWA, the main United Nations agency in Gaza, from delivering aid to the north. Other aid groups have also found it risky to deliver aid via trucks due to Israel’s incessant airstrikes.
Following the incident, World Central Kitchen decided to immediately suspend its operations in Gaza. The organization declared the deaths a tragedy and emphasized that “Humanitarian aid workers and civilians should NEVER be a target. EVER.”
José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, expressed his grief over the loss of the aid workers. He criticized the Israeli government, calling for an end to “indiscriminate killing” and the use of “food as a weapon.”
The Israel Defense Forces stated that they had initiated “a thorough review to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident.”
The ongoing war in Gaza began on October 7. Since the start of the conflict, Israeli offensive actions have resulted in the deaths of at least 32,845 Palestinians, as per the Gaza-based Hamas-run Health Ministry.
