Seven Aid Workers Killed in Israeli Strike in Gaza
By Shayan Sardarizadeh, Benedict Garman, and Thomas Spencer
2 April 2024
Updated 7 hours ago
The Convoy
The food aid charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) has suffered a tragic loss as seven of its members were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. Among the victims were three British citizens. Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called on Israel to urgently explain how this incident occurred. Images of the aftermath, shared on social media, were studied by our team at BBC Verify to piece together the details surrounding the incident.
The charity has reported that the aid workers were traveling in a convoy of three cars, two of which were armored. The movement of the convoy had been coordinated with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the strike, the convoy had successfully delivered over 100 tonnes of food supplies to a warehouse in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. By analyzing the images, BBC Verify determined that the heavily damaged vehicles, one of which had a WCK logo on the roof, were situated at locations approximately 2.5km apart, suggesting multiple strikes. Using satellite images, our team matched visual clues in the photos with the surrounding area to identify the exact locations, including one part of Al-Rashid road.
A weapons expert consultation by BBC Verify explored the possible types of weapons used in the attack. Although no missile or bomb fragments were found at the scene, the experts studied the extent of damage to the vehicles. Chris Cobb-Smith, a former British Army officer and ex-UN weapons inspector, assessed that the attack was likely carried out using drone-launched Spike missiles, known for their effectiveness against armored vehicles. Justin Crump, a former British Army officer and CEO of Sibylline, a risk intelligence company, agreed with this assessment and added that the strike was probably caused by a missile, rather than a bomb or mortar.
The Victims
The seven aid workers who tragically lost their lives during this operation have been identified as:
- Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, 43, an Australian citizen
- Damian Sobol, 35, a Polish citizen
- Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25, a Palestinian
- Jacob Flickinger, 33, a dual US-Canadian national
- John Chapman, 57, a British citizen
- James (Jim) Henderson, 33, a British citizen
- James Kirby, 47, a British citizen
Disturbing images of the aid workers’ bodies appeared on social media, causing shock and sorrow. WCK logos were visible on the bulletproof vests worn by at least three of the victims. Videos were also shared, revealing WCK colleagues identifying the bodies and expressing their grief.
The Route
A statement from WCK revealed that the food supplies were delivered by sea through a recently constructed jetty west of Gaza City. Aid delivered by this maritime route began on 15 March. WCK also operates a “Welcome Centre” along the coastal road to provide assistance to refugees from the north. Although the location of the Deir al-Balah warehouse remains unclear, WCK recently established a new field kitchen east of Deir al-Balah, near Salah al-Din road. Satellite imagery suggests a distance of approximately 5km between the warehouse and the first targeted vehicle on the coastal road. When BBC Verify requested the warehouse location and coordinates shared with Israeli forces, WCK did not provide any details.
The Israeli army has stated that it is reviewing the incident at the highest levels to understand the circumstances and causes of the attack. Additionally, they have committed to opening a probe to further investigate the serious incident.
BBC Verify is continuing its investigation into this incident, and our team is dedicated to uncovering the truth as more details emerge.
Additional reporting by Merlyn Thomas.
