Three employees of the humanitarian group World Central Kitchen (WCK) and at least two other people were murdered Saturday when an Israeli aircraft struck a car in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The incident is the third deadly blow in Gaza this year for the US-based humanitarian organization, which is well-known for its emergency food distribution work.
Following the attack, the WCK declared that it had halted activities in the besieged area due to safety concerns for its volunteers and employees. The group, which has been running community meals in Gaza, denied Israeli military claims of connections to terrorist activity and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of its team members.
A Tragic Loss for Aid Efforts
Palestinian Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal confirmed to AFP that “at least five dead were transported [to hospital], including the three employees of World Central Kitchen.” The airstrike hit the vehicle while it was on a routine supply run, according to local sources.
The death of our team members, who were committed to delivering food to the most vulnerable during this humanitarian catastrophe, is heartbreaking, WCK said in a statement. We are unaware of any connections that any of the people in the car may have had to the Hamas attack on October 7.
The Israeli military defended the bombing by saying it was directed at a “terrorist” who was involved in the assaults on Israel on October 7. According to the military, the individual was also employed by WCK.
No evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims, and WCK officials have strongly refuted the accusations. “Our mission is solely humanitarian, and our staff is committed to serving the most vulnerable populations. These are all false allegations and very disturbing rumors”, the organization noted.
WCK workers’ deaths highlight the growing risks faced by providers of humanitarian assistance working in Gaza. Humanitarian corridors are still few and aid NGOs have been repeatedly playing a critical role in calling for the safe grounds of their personnel while facing escalated bombings in the heavily populated area.
Gaza has been subjected to daily airstrikes since October 7, due to the Hamas-led surprise attack on southern Israel which caused the death of more than 1,200 individuals. The Israeli response has resulted in thousands of fatalities in Gaza (where humanitarian aid workers are becoming increasingly vulnerable) in the crossfire.
For this reason, international aid organizations have called for an independent inquiry into the attack. “Humanitarian workers must be protected at all costs,” they assert; however, the situation remains dire. Although efforts are being made, the challenges persist because of the ongoing violence. This underscores the urgent need for accountability and safety measures in conflict zones. “Their loss is a crippling blow for the communities they serve and a cruel reminder of the random quality of this war,” remarked a spokesperson for a relief organization operating worldwide in the area.
The suspension of WCK activities takes place in an environment in which Gazans are suffering from a severe food and humanitarian crisis. This can be seen through power cuts, the lack of access to safe drinking water, and inaccessibility to vital resources; where there are no aid personnel, a big void seriously deprived of assistance would be left for the innumerable families depending on this day-to-day support.
The death of the WCK staff, which is now staining Gaza with its blood, casts a shadow that’s now threatening to engulf the efforts of the humanitarian community working in providing relief to casualties of the conflict. Families are gone and the grief is too much to bear for the departed, and for WCK, more like the scalpel that it is to accomplish mission.
The attack has posed critical questions regarding the safety of aid workers operating in conflict areas and the importance of increased accountability to prevent aid workers from becoming targets, while also trying to save lives.
