World Central Kitchen, a non-profit humanitarian organization, tragically confirms the loss of seven team members in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza. The deaths of these aid workers sparked widespread online outrage, leading to international condemnation of Israel's actions. While some pro-Israel voices have suggested Hamas may have planted a bomb in the convoy, Misbar’s investigative team found evidence pointing to Israel as the perpetrator.
Israel Killed Seven World Central Kitchen Aid Workers
In a released statement, the World Central Kitchen expresses profound sorrow at confirming the loss of seven team members in an IOF strike in Gaza.
Despite traveling in clearly identified vehicles and coordinating movements with the IOF in a designated safe area, the convoy was struck as it departed the Deir al-Balah warehouse after unloading over 100 tons of humanitarian food aid.
CEO Erin Gore condemned the attack as not only targeting WCK but also undermining humanitarian efforts in conflict zones where food aid is crucial.
The victims hailed from various countries, including Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, and Palestine. Erin expressesd heartbreak and disbelief at the loss of lives dedicated to helping others
In response, World Central Kitchen is immediately pausing operations in the region and will soon decide on future actions.
Ships carrying approximately 240 tons of aid from the charitable group were forced to turn back from Gaza just one day after their arrival, as reported by Cyprus. Furthermore, other humanitarian aid organizations halted their operations in Gaza, citing safety concerns as the primary reason for suspending assistance efforts.
World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés spoke out in an interview with Reuters regarding the Israeli military strike that claimed the lives of seven aid workers, including foreign nationals, as they were delivering food to starving civilians in Gaza.
World Central Kitchen has urged for the establishment of an independent commission to investigate the attack on its convoy. The organization stated that the Israeli military "cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza." The group emphasized the need for systemic change, cautioning that without it, there would be more military failures, more apologies, and more families grieving.
Pro-Israel Accounts Accuse Hamas of Killing WCK Aid Workers
Mossad Commentary, a prominent Israeli source, claimed on April 2 that the bombing of the organization's vehicles was orchestrated by Hamas using a side bomb intended for Israeli forces in Deir al-Balah.
The account pointed to several factors suggesting Hamas' involvement, including their prompt reporting of the incident and the widespread circulation of images of the victims. Hamas's apparent preference for controlling aid distribution instead of allowing it through Israel was also highlighted.
Additional Israeli sources echoed the original claim, accusing Hamas of exploiting the incident for propaganda purposes.
Visual Investigation Reveals Israel’s Responsibility for the Attack
An investigation conducted by Misbar's team, analyzing visuals from the scene, revealed a photo indicating that one of the World Central Kitchen vehicles was struck from the roof. This finding contradicts the assertion that Hamas planted a side bomb on the vehicle.
Israeli officials reported that within four minutes, each of the three vehicles in the convoy was targeted by at least one Israeli drone as they traveled south in a line, resulting in the deaths of all seven passengers. According to Benny Gal, one of the Israeli generals briefing reporters, Israeli officers fired upon the first car without sufficient evidence to justify it as a legitimate target.
Some aid workers from the first vehicle, upon being struck, sought refuge in the next vehicle for protection, but it was also targeted.
The decision by soldiers to fire upon the second and third cars, under the mistaken assumption that they too were sheltering militants, did not adhere to the Israeli military's protocols for open fire, the officials acknowledged.
Israel Confirms Involvement in Attack on WCK Workers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that it was the IOF who conducted the strike on the WCK aid workers.
Moreover, an Israeli army commission, whose conclusions were shared with World Central Kitchen (WCK) and foreign ambassadors. The deaths of the seven World Central Kitchen organization workers in an Israeli drone strike on Monday resulted from a “series of mistakes,” including insufficient coordination between various levels of the IOF and the misidentification of an individual suspected to be armed in a targeted vehicle.
On Friday, the Israeli military revealed that two officers, a reserve colonel and a major, would be dismissed from their positions. Additionally, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff of the Israeli military, opted to formally reprimand the head of Israel’s southern command along with two other senior officers, according to a statement released by the military.
The International Community Condemns the Israeli Attack
On Tuesday, some of Israel’s key allies, including the United States, condemned the deaths of seven aid workers killed by airstrikes in Gaza. President Joe Biden notably criticized Israel, suggesting that the incident highlighted insufficient efforts to protect civilians.
Biden expressed his outrage and sorrow over the killings, emphasizing that Israel must do more to safeguard aid workers delivering crucial assistance to civilians. The United States, along with Britain, Poland, Australia, and Canada, called on Israel to provide explanations for the deaths, indicating growing discontent among allies that could pressure Israel.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conveyed his shock at the workers’ deaths to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, describing the situation in Gaza as increasingly intolerable.
The deaths have raised concerns among U.N. agencies and other aid groups, which have long struggled to navigate around Gaza due to obstacles imposed by the military. Israel's restrictions, including the barring of UNRWA from delivering aid to the north, have compounded the challenges of delivering assistance.
Israeli Assaults on Gaza Last for 183 Days
In 181 days, Israel is accused of perpetrating genocide in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 33,091 individuals and injuring approximately 75,750 others. The cost of damage to critical infrastructure in Gaza is estimated to be around $18.5 billion, as per a joint report by the World Bank and United Nations.
John Kelly, the designated U.S. representative to the U.N., emphasized the pressing need for safeguarding humanitarian personnel in conflict zones following Israeli drone strikes on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza.
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