World Central Kitchen Confirms Israeli Strike on Workers

World Central Kitchen (WCK) has confirmed that an Israeli airstrike in Gaza struck a vehicle carrying its workers, killing its employees.

The organization, known for providing meals in disaster zones, announced the temporary suspension of its operations in the region.

WCK shared the news on social media, stating, "We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details." The group emphasized that it had no knowledge of any alleged ties between those in the vehicle and the Hamas attack on October 7.

The incident occurred in Khan Younis, where an airstrike killed seven Palestinians, including the three WCK workers, as per reports. In another attack in Gaza City's Al-Rimal neighborhood, seven individuals died when a residential home was targeted. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors beneath the rubble.

Elsewhere in northern Gaza, a drone strike near Halima Al-Saadia School in Jabalia claimed another life, while eyewitnesses reported Israeli ground forces firing at homes in the Al-Saftawi area.

The airstrikes come as international criticism of the conflict intensifies. Since the war began after Hamas's cross-border attack, over 44,300 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have died, and more than 105,000 people have been injured, according to local health officials. Meanwhile, aid deliveries remain severely limited, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

World Central Kitchen's Global Impact

Founded by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen has delivered meals in crisis zones since 2010, including 32 million meals in Gaza by March this year. Despite the risks, the organization has continued its work in conflict areas, with similar tragedies reported in Ukraine.

The strike marks the second time WCK workers have been targeted in Gaza. In April, another airstrike mistakenly hit a marked convoy, killing seven workers after delivering food aid.

Israel later admitted that the strike on the Gaza Strip, which claimed the lives of WCK volunteers, was a grave error. The Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi expressed regret over the incident, stating, "I want to be clear—the strike was not carried out with the intention of harming aid workers. It was a mistake that followed a misidentification—at night, during war, in very difficult conditions. This should not have happened."