Israeli strike kills aid workers from chef's NGO
STORY: Several employees of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) nonprofit were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.
That's according to the NGO, who said those killed included citizens of Poland, Australia, Britain, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada as well as several Palestinians.
Video obtained by Reuters showed paramedics moving bodies into a hospital in central Gaza and displaying the passports of three of those killed.
The NGO said the workers were traveling in two armored cars marked with the WCK logo and another vehicle.
And - that despite co-ordinating movements with the Israeli Defence Force, the convoy was hit as it was leaving a warehouse used to store food aid brought to Gaza by sea.
The chief executive of WCK called the attack quote "unforgivable."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday confirmed the death of Australian aid worker Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom, seen here.
“This is a tragedy and my sincere condolences and that of the Australian Government go to Zomi’s family, to her friends and all who knew her.”
“Australia expects full accountability for the deaths of aid workers, which is completely unacceptable.”
WCK delivers food relief and prepares meals for people in need.
It said last month it had served more than 42 million meals in Gaza over 175 days.
Chef Jose Andres, who started the NGO in 2010, said on X: "The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon.”
Commenting on the reports, the Israeli military said it was conducting a thorough review at the highest levels of what it called a tragic incident, and said that it makes quote “extensive efforts” to enable aid to reach the people of Gaza.
WCK said it was pausing its operations in the region immediately and would make decisions soon about the future of its work.
