Seven humanitarian workers killed in Gaza with the Israeli Defense Forces raid on a food aid convoy: among them a Polish citizen, an Englishman, a Canadian and two Israelis
Bloody passports and t-shirts, and a communication on the website of the NGO World Central Kit Chen for which they worked: gods seven aid workers killed in Gazain the Israeli raid on aid distribution, crude images and World Central Kitchen’s decision to “immediately halt our operations in the region” remain.
Today’s news on the war between Israel and Hamas, live
The only one disclosed and confirmed, among those of the victims, is the name of the Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom, known as Zomi: 43 years old, originally from Melbourne, just a week ago she appeared in a video shot by the NGO in Gaza. The other volunteers came from Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada—one, a dual U.S. citizen—and Palestine.
Photos of the open passports and therefore also the first names are circulating on social media: such as that of the Polish Damian Rafal Sobol, born in 1988, and the Palestinian Saif Essam Abu Tala. Damian worked in the kitchen and on the World Central Kitchen Facebook account he appears in a video from a month ago, together with chef Oli. However, no official confirmation has yet been received from the Polish press and institutions.
Born in Melbourne and raised in Sydney, 43-year-old Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom was instantly identified. Her family has already written and published a statement in which they mourn her: she died “doing the job she loved”. “We mourn the news that our brave, beloved Zomi was killed doing the work she loved, bringing food to the people of Gaza. She was a kind, altruistic and uncommon person who traveled the world to help those in need.” Already an employee of the Commonwealth Bank, she had worked for the NGO for five years. At university she had studied psychological sciences.
The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who has often and openly asked on behalf of the government for a ceasefire in Gaza, also commented: Zomi’s death is “unacceptable, and our position is very clear”. Albanese summoned the Israeli ambassador to Canberra.
World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore said in a statement that her team was “traveling in a non-conflict zone in two armored cars marked with the WCK logo and one unarmored vehicle.” The movements, as per protocol in these cases, had been coordinated with the army; Nonetheless, the convoy was hit as it left the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of food aid. Gore also said: «This is not just an attack on us, it is an attack on humanitarian organizations that present themselves in the most dire situations where food is used as a weapon of war. It’s unforgivable.”
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April 2, 2024 (modified April 2, 2024 | 09:29)
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