Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that Israel’s military had carried out an unintentional strike in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of seven workers from World Central Kitchen who were delivering aid. The humanitarian aid group has since paused its operations in the region. The Israeli Defense Forces announced that they would be conducting an independent investigation into the incident, acknowledging the vital mission of the aid workers in providing much-needed food to people in Gaza.
According to World Central Kitchen, the workers were struck while traveling in vehicles marked with the organization’s logo in a “deconflicted zone” in Gaza. Despite coordinating their movements with the IDF, the convoy was targeted after delivering over 100 tons of food aid to a warehouse in Deir al-Balah. The deceased workers hailed from various countries, including Australia, Poland, Britain, Palestine, and the U.S. and Canada.
The confirmation of the deaths came after disturbing footage surfaced on social media, showing the bodies of the deceased workers dressed in protective gear with World Central Kitchen logos. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that at least one Palestinian was also killed in the strike, but it remains unclear if they were among the seven deceased aid workers. The aid group’s founder, Jose Andres, called on the Israeli government to cease indiscriminate killings, restrictions on humanitarian aid, and the use of food as a weapon.
In response to the tragic incident, the Israeli military stated that they were conducting a thorough review to understand the circumstances surrounding the strike. The IDF emphasized their efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and their collaboration with World Central Kitchen in providing food and aid to the people of Gaza. World Central Kitchen announced that they would be halting their operations in the region and will be making decisions about the future of their work soon.
The situation has drawn international attention and condemnation, with calls for accountability and measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The deaths of the aid workers have highlighted the dangers faced by humanitarian organizations operating in conflict zones and the need for enhanced protection and coordination to ensure the safe delivery of essential aid. The Israeli government has expressed regret over the unintended strike and has pledged to take steps to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
