Foreign Aid Workers Killed in Israeli Strike in Central Gaza: Investigation Underway

Four Foreign Aid Workers Killed in Israeli Strike in Central Gaza

Israeli military investigating after nationals from UK, Australia, and Poland, working for World Central Kitchen, were reportedly in convoy struck in central Gaza

Published: Tue 2 Apr 2024 01.23 CEST

Four foreign nationals, including aid workers from Poland, the United Kingdom, and Australia, have been killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, according to health officials in the occupied territory. Late on Monday, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office reported the tragic incident. The identities of the aid workers and the fourth national were not immediately confirmed. A Palestinian translator was also reportedly killed. The aid workers were working for World Central Kitchen and were part of a convoy that was hit by an Israeli strike south of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, as stated by local officials.

Footage from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah showed the bodies of the aid workers and the translator. Some of them were wearing protective body armor with the charity’s logo. The passports of three of the deceased aid workers, identifying them as British, Australian, and Polish, were also displayed. The source of the strike has not been independently confirmed.

World Central Kitchen, in an online statement, acknowledged the devastating incident and commented, “We are aware of reports that members of the World Central Kitchen team have been killed in an IDF attack while working to support our humanitarian food delivery efforts in Gaza. This is a tragedy. Humanitarian aid workers and civilians should never be a target.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, expressed condolences and stated, “Following the reports regarding the World Central Kitchen personnel in Gaza today, the IDF is conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident. The IDF makes extensive efforts to enable safe delivery of humanitarian aid and has been working closely with WCK in their vital efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”

The aid workers were part of a team that was helping to deliver food and supplies, which had arrived hours early by ship, to northern Gaza. The shipment, carrying 400 tons of aid, was organized by the United Arab Emirates and the World Central Kitchen. The initiative was aimed at providing essential assistance to the region amid the imminent famine and the significant challenges faced in the delivery of aid due to Israeli restrictions and the absence of safe passage for truck convoys to the north.

Mahmoud Thabet, a paramedic from the Palestinian Red Crescent, who was involved in transporting the bodies to the hospital, stated to the Associated Press that the aid workers’ vehicle was struck shortly after entering northern Gaza. The Palestinians and other organizations had turned to the sea route to overcome the obstacles they faced in delivering aid, with the United States promoting it as a new method for providing assistance. However, this heartbreaking incident highlights the ongoing risks and dangers faced by humanitarian workers in the region.

The British authorities have not yet confirmed the death of a UK citizen in Gaza. Comments from the Foreign Office are awaited. The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, expressed deep concern and stated that his government was urgently investigating reports of the death of an Australian aid worker. He added, “My government has supported a sustainable ceasefire. We’ve called for the release of hostages, and there have been far too many innocent lives, Palestinian and Israeli, lost during the Gaza-Hamas conflict.”

The founder of World Central Kitchen, Chef José Andrés, mourned the loss of the charity’s team members and called for immediate action, saying, “I am heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family. These are people… angels… I served alongside in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, Bahamas, Indonesia. They are not faceless… they are not nameless.” He urged the Israeli government to cease the indiscriminate killing, lift the restrictions on humanitarian aid, cease the targeting of civilians and aid workers, and to stop using food as a weapon, emphasizing the need to protect innocent lives and seek peace.

The incident involving the aid workers highlights the challenges faced by aid organizations while providing essential support to the people of Gaza. The continuous loss of lives and the humanitarian crisis in the region demand immediate attention and a concerted effort to find a lasting solution.

world/2024/apr/02/israel-idf-air-strike-gaza-foreign-aid-workers-palestinian-translator-killed"/>
world/2024/apr/02/amp-state:epicState" credentials="include" id="epic-container" single-item="true" items=".">

world/2024/apr/02/israel-idf-air-strike-gaza-foreign-aid-workers-palestinian-translator-killed","sh":"https://www.theguardian.com/p/qa5a5","ct":"article","tn":"news","k":"israel-hamas-war,gaza,uk/uk,world,australia-news,middleeast","su":"2,3,4,5","edition":"eur","sens":"f","urlkw":"israel,idf,air,strike,gaza,foreign,aid,workers,palestinian,translator,killed","slot":"ad-sticky","p":"amp","rp":"dotcom-rendering"}}" data-slot="/59666047/theguardian.com/world/article/amp" rtc-config="{"urls":["amp-script:permutiveCachedTargeting.ct"],"vendors":{"openwrap":{"PROFILE_ID":"6611","PUB_ID":"157207"},"criteo":{"ZONE_ID":"1709360"},"ozone":{"PUBLISHER_ID":"OZONEGMG0001","SITE_ID":"4204204209","TAG_ID":"1000000000","PLACEMENT_ID":"0420420507","AD_UNIT_CODE":"ad-sticky"},"aps":{"PUB_ID":"3722","PARAMS":{"amp":"1"}}},"timeoutMillis":1000}"/>