World Central Kitchen Halts Operations in Gaza Following Deadly Drone Strike
World Central Kitchen (WCK), the humanitarian organization founded by renowned Spanish chef José Andrés, has announced the cessation of its operations in Gaza after a tragic incident on Saturday that resulted in the deaths of three local employees. This followed an Israeli drone attack targeting one of WCK's vehicles. According to local media reports, the attack occurred in Khan Younis, where five Palestinians were killed, including three WCK staff members.
The casualties included the head of community kitchens in eastern Khan Younis, a driver, and the evaluation and monitoring officer for the NGO. Local witnesses reported that the drone strike was preceded by an attempt by armed individuals to seize humanitarian aid, prompting an Israeli drone to first target a truck in the convoy. After initial impacts, another missile struck the SUV carrying WCK employees, marked with the organization's logo.
In the aftermath of the attack, the Israeli Army asserted that one of the deceased individuals was identified as a militant associated with Hamas, which the organization has firmly denied, stating they had no prior knowledge of any alleged ties to the militant group. WCK expressed its condolences in a statement on social media, emphasizing, "Our hearts are with our colleagues and their families during this unimaginable time."
The Israeli military declared that its strike was based on credible intelligence regarding the location of the militant, but the civilian nature of WCK's operations has drawn scrutiny. The military's statement also indicated that the investigation into the claim that a worker was simultaneously a militant was ongoing, adding that the civilian vehicle did not feature markings signifying it as part of aid transport and had not coordinated movements for such purposes.
This incident is compounded by a previous tragedy in April when seven WCK employees were killed in a similar Israeli attack, highlighting the perilous conditions that humanitarian organizations face in conflict zones. With the decision to halt operations in Gaza, WCK joins a growing list of NGOs reconsidering their presence due to safety concerns amid escalating violence in the region.
As the situation unfolds, the impact on the humanitarian aid landscape remains uncertain, with many questioning how such incidents can be avoided in the future. The plight of civilians and humanitarian workers in conflict zones continues to invoke calls for greater accountability and protection.
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