Seven aid workers from the NGO World Central Kitchen, owned by chef José Andrés, were killed Monday evening in an Israeli raid on Gaza. WCK itself reports this in a note, in which it says it is “devastated to confirm that seven members of our team were killed in an IDF raid”. The seven victims are Australian, Polish, British and have dual American and Canadian citizenship, in addition to the Palestinian driver.
Wck suspends all operations in the region
The Wck team “was traveling aboard two armored cars with the logo” of the NGO and “despite the coordination of movements with the IDF, the convoy was hit while leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza” via the maritime corridor from Cyprus, the NGO writes on its website. “It is a tragedy. Humanitarian workers and civilians should NEVER be targeted. EVER,” he wrote again on an Israeli raid on Gaza. I am heartbroken and mourning their families, friends and the entire Wck family.”
“This isn’t just an attack on WCK, it’s an attack on humanitarian organizations which arise in the most terrible situations, where food is used as a weapon of war. It’s inexcusable,” said Erin Gore, CEO of World Central Kitchen, who has decided to “immediately suspend our operations in the region. We will soon make decisions about the future of our work.”
Use: “Quick Investigation”
The White House expressed “shock” at the bombing by the Israeli army. “We are heartbroken and deeply concerned by the attack in which WCKitchen aid workers in Gaza were killed. Aid workers must be protected as they deliver desperately needed aid, and we urge Israel to swiftly investigate the incident,” the spokeswoman said White House National Security Council Adrienne Watson on X.
Israel: “Tragic accident”
“Following the news about World Central Kitchen personnel, the Israel Defense Forces is conducting a thorough investigation at the highest level to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident.” The IDF wrote it on its Telegram channel. “The IDF – they underline – makes important efforts to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and is working closely with WCK in its vital effort to ensure food and humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza”.
Meanwhile, it appears that the Biden administration is close to approving the sale of as many as 50 American-made F-15 fighter jets to Israel, in a deal that is expected to be worth more than $18 billion. This was reported by ‘CNN’ which cites three sources close to the dossier. The transaction, which would amount to the largest U.S. foreign military sale to Israel since the country went to war with Hamas on October 7, comes as the Biden administration is also expected to notify Congress soon of a large new sale of guided munitions of precision to Israel, sources explain to the US all news channel.
It is likely, ‘CNN’ observes, that the sale will be the subject of heated debates in Congress, in particular by members of the Democratic Party. U.S. arms sales to Israel have come under intense scrutiny in recent months, and Democratic lawmakers have called for limiting military aid to Israel until it allows more humanitarian aid into Gaza and does more to protect civilians there .
