World Central Kitchen is resuming its operations in Gaza despite the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, following the deaths of seven of its aid workers in Israeli airstrikes last month. The charity’s chief executive, Erin Gore, stated that they are restarting their work in recognition of the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, with a focus on providing food to as many people as possible. WCK has distributed over 43 million meals and aims to deliver millions more, emphasizing the importance of food as a universal right and the lifesaving impact of their mission in Gaza.
Gore mentioned that WCK has assembled a team of local workers to continue their efforts in Gaza and reiterated their demand for an independent investigation into the attack that killed their aid workers. She stated that while the Israeli Defense Forces have apologized for the incident and made changes to their rules of operation, WCK continues to seek answers and advocate for the protection of NGO workers in humanitarian crises. The organization remains committed to advocating for an impartial and international investigation into the killings of their workers.
After an internal investigation, Israel’s military acknowledged that the attack on WCK’s convoy was due to mistaken identification and errors in decision-making, contrary to standard operating procedures. Gore highlighted the difficult decision WCK faced between halting their operations in Gaza or continuing to provide lifesaving aid despite the risks involved for their workers and civilians. Ultimately, the charity decided to prioritize their mission of feeding people during difficult times and committed to serving up to 8 million meals in Gaza.
Despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, WCK is prepared to deliver aid through various channels, including 276 trucks entering through the Rafah crossing and potentially using the Ashdod Port. The organization is also constructing a third high-production kitchen in southern Gaza, named after one of the workers killed in the attack. With 68 community kitchens currently operational in the area, WCK is dedicated to continuing their humanitarian efforts in Gaza despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict and risks to their workers.
The war in Gaza, which has resulted in over 34,488 Palestinian deaths according to local officials, has raised concerns about the flow of aid into the region. An internal State Department memo revealed that Israel has been impeding U.S. aid from entering Gaza, citing fears of potential arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court. Meanwhile, efforts to negotiate a temporary cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas have been complicated by Hamas’ demands for the release of hostages and an end to the conflict.
WCK’s decision to resume operations in Gaza amidst the ongoing violence underscores the organization’s commitment to providing food aid to the most vulnerable populations in humanitarian crises. Despite the risks involved, WCK remains dedicated to their mission of delivering meals to those in need and advocating for the protection of NGO workers in conflict zones. As the situation in Gaza continues to evolve, WCK’s presence and efforts serve as a beacon of hope for the people affected by the conflict.
