Israeli Strike Kills 3 World Central Kitchen Aid Workers In Gaza, IDF Says Struck A 'Terrorist' Part Of Oct 7 Attack
WCK charity said it was "heartbroken" by the Israeli airstrike and clarified that it was unaware if anyone in the car had alleged ties to the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel.
At least five people, including three aid workers of World Central Kitchen (WCK), were killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip. After the strike, Israel confirmed that a Palestinian employee of the WCK who was killed in the attack was a "terrorist" who "infiltrated Israel and was part of the October 7 massacre". Reacting to the Israeli military's claim, the WCK said it was "urgently seeking more details" regarding the same.
WCK said it was "heartbroken" by the Israeli airstrike and clarified that it was unaware if anyone in the car had alleged ties to the October 7, 2023 attack, stating it was "working with incomplete information". The charity also announced pausing operations in Gaza.
We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
— World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) November 30, 2024
At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details.
World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any… pic.twitter.com/7fPLZ8z9Vy
"Earlier today, the IDF struck a vehicle with a terrorist, Hazmi Kadih, who took part in invading Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre. Kadih was monitored by IDF intelligence for a while and was struck following credible information regarding his real-time location," Israel Defence Forces said in a statement on X.
The IDF further stated that Kadih worked for the WCK organisation and demanded that the international community and WCK administration issue clarification regarding the same. It also sought an "urgent" examination of the process of recruiting workers who took part in "terrorist attacks against Israel".
Earlier today, the IDF struck a vehicle with a terrorist, Hazmi Kadih, who took part in invading Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre. Kadih was monitored by IDF intelligence for a while and was struck following credible information regarding his real-time location.…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 30, 2024
Earlier this year, the charity’s aid delivery efforts in Gaza were temporarily suspended following an Israeli strike wherein seven of its workers, mostly foreigners, were killed.
Violence in Gaza continues to rage even after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to be holding, despite sporadic events that tested its fragility. On Saturday, Israel struck what it stated were weapons smuggling sites of Hezbollah along Syria’s border with Lebanon.
The strike on the WCK vehicle is the most recent episode of what the aid agencies have called the dangerous work of delivering aid in war-hit Gaza, which is witnessing a humanitarian crisis that has left nearly 2.3 million population displaced and triggered widespread hunger, The Associated Press reported.
World Central Kitchen works to provides meals to people in need in places hit by natural disasters or to those facing conflict. The charity organisation's teams have served as a lifeline for Gaza, where people have struggled to feed themselves.
Muneer Alboursh, Palestinian health official, confirmed the Israeli strike, while an aid worker in Gaza confirmed that those killed included three workers of the WCK, the report noted.
In another similar attack, seven workers were killed in a strike on a WCK aid convoy in April. These included three British citizens, Polish and Australian nationals, a Canadian-American dual national, and a Palestinian. However, Israel had called the strike a mistake.
This further led to an international outcry and several aid groups, including WCK, briefly suspension aid to Gaza. In August, another Palestinian WCK worker was killed by shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike.
On Sunday, another Israeli airstrike hit a car near a food distribution point in Khan Younis, claiming the lives of 13 people, including children who were present at the spot to receive aid.
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