Seven Aid Workers Were Killed in Gaza

Mavhungunekuvule Mungomeni

(The Post News) In Gaza, the Seven Aid Group World Central Kitchen Workers Killed at Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah were assisting to deliver aid that arrived on a ship from Cyprus when the worker’s car was hit by an airstrike after crossing from northern Gaza. World Central Kitchen said in a statement that seven of its team members had been killed and were Australian, Polish, British, Palestinian, and a dual US-Canadian citizen. The charity, which recently made headlines for providing hundreds of tons of food for Gaza, arrived on the first aid ship.

The charity CEO, Erin Gore, said, “I am heartbroken and appalled that the World Central Kitchen and the world lost beautiful lives because of a targeted attack by the IDF. Workers from countries including the UK, Poland, and Australia were killed. The love they had for feeding people, the determination they embodied to show that humanity rises above all, and the impact they made on countless lives will forever be remembered and cherished.” The chef, Mr. Andres, who has been the founder of World Central Kitchen since 2010, said last month it had served more than 42 million meals in Gaza over 175 days.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that aid worker Lalzawmi Zomi Frankcom was among those killed and has offered his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

It is also confirmed that an Australian national was killed in the incident. The Australian foreign ministry said, “We have been very clear that we expect humanitarian workers in Gaza to have safe and unimpeded access to do their lifesaving work.”

According to a report by the Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall, some of the victims were foreigners, including a Briton. This should be of no special significance, but it will naturally bring greater attention to the immense risks faced by humanitarian workers operating in Gaza and the accusations that they are either being deliberately targeted or hit as a result of reckless soldiering.

This incident is a tragic example of a major, unresolved problem with de-conflict that is having a significant impact on aid and humanitarian efforts. Aid convoys attempting to reach northern Gaza have either been forced to turn back or simply not made the journey because the risk of being hit by Israeli fire was too great.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, said on Twitter that she was heartbroken and deeply troubled by the strike that killed World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. Humanitarian aid workers must be protected as they deliver aid that is desperately needed, and we urge Israel to swiftly investigate what happened.

Gaza’s Hamas-run media office also blamed Israel. The alleged strike could not be immediately verified independently. Israel has not admitted responsibility for the attack on the aid workers. However, Gaza hasn’t provided proof that Israel was responsible for the deaths of WCK workers.