On Tuesday, aid organizations worldwide expressed sorrow over the tragic killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza. The director of the World Food Programme in Palestine, Matthew Hollingworth, lauded the invaluable work of these aid workers in providing life-saving food assistance to nearly half of Gaza's population facing imminent famine. He emphasized the bravery and dedication of these aid workers who face significant risks daily in their humanitarian efforts.
Open Arms, a non-profit rescue organization, also mourned the loss of the aid workers, describing it as irreparable human losses. The organization highlighted the challenging environment in Gaza, where hunger is used as a weapon of war, and where humanitarian workers are now being targeted.
Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, expressed deep grief over the repeated deaths of aid workers in the conflict. He called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further tragedies.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), extended his condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims. He emphasized that humanitarian workers should not be targeted and stressed the critical role of organizations like World Central Kitchen in providing essential food assistance to vulnerable populations.
The tragic incident occurred when the aid workers were killed by an Israeli airstrike, as confirmed by both WCK and authorities in Gaza. Among the victims were individuals from various countries, including a dual US-Canada national, as well as representatives from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, and a Palestinian.
The Israel Defense Forces have stated that they are conducting a thorough review of the incident to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragic loss of these dedicated aid workers.
