At least seven people people who worked for chef José Andres’ US NGO World Central Kitchen were killed in an air raid by the Israeli army. José Andres himself announced it, saying he was devastated by the loss. “These people are angels,” wrote José Andres on X. “World Central Kitchen is shocked to confirm that seven members of our team were killed in Gaza in an IDF attack,” the grassroots NGO said in a statement in the United States, adding that the victims “were from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, a dual American and Canadian citizen, and a Palestinian.” Both World Central Kitchen and another NGO, American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), have announced the suspension of their operations in Gaza.
The World Central Kitchen team was traveling in “a conflict-free zone on board two armored cars marked with the WCK logo”, the NGO itself writes on its website, underlining that “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 along the sea route.”
Video Humanitarian workers dead in Gaza, one of the latest videos from Zomi Frankcom
“Following the news regarding the personnel of the World Central Kitchen in Gaza, the IDF is conducting an in-depth examination at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident”: the Israeli army wrote on Telegram. “The IDF makes great efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and works closely with the WCK in their vital efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the statement continues.
The White House she said she was “heartbroken” by the death of humanitarian workers from the US NGO World Central Kitchen. “We are saddened and deeply disturbed by the attack,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson wrote on X, adding that “aid workers must be protected as they deliver desperately needed aid, and we urge Israel to promptly investigate the incident.”
The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has confirmed that one of the aid workers killed in the attack by the Israeli army on a vehicle of the US NGO World Central Kitchen in the Gaza Strip was an Australian citizen.
The EU Commission called for a “thorough investigation” into the deaths of the seven workers of the US NGO World Central Kitchen. “Humanitarian workers must always be protected, in line with international humanitarian law,” writes the EU executive on new innocent victims”, adds Borrell, calling for the immediate implementation of the UN resolution for “an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access and strengthened protection of civilians”.
‘Pro-Iran forces attack US base in Syria’
A military drone launched by pro-Iranian Iraqi forces in Syria targeted the US military base in Syria, in Tanf, on the border with Iraq and Jordan. This was reported by the National Observatory for Human Rights in Syria, confirming what was stated by other local media. According to sources, the drone was shot down in flight by US anti-aircraft and there were no casualties or damage.
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