Several countries have reacted with horror to the deaths of employees of the aid organization World Central Kitchen in the Gaza Strip. EU chief diplomat Borrell strongly condemned the attack. Israel announced an investigation.
After the death of seven employees of the aid organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) in an air strike in the Gaza Strip, there is an international demand for clarification.
EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell wrote on Platform X: “I condemn the attack and demand an investigation.” Despite all calls to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, there are new innocent victims. This shows that the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access and increased protection of civilians must be implemented immediately.
According to the aid organization, the victims came from Australia, Poland and Great Britain. They also included a person with dual citizenship from the USA and Canada and several Palestinians.
States express their horror
The White House is “deeply dismayed,” US Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson wrote on the X platform. Aid organization employees “must be protected when they deliver urgently needed aid,” she emphasized.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on X: “I have personally asked Israeli Ambassador Yacov Livne for urgent explanations.” Poland “does not agree with the lack of compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers,” the Polish Foreign Ministry said. The information about the death of a Polish citizen is being checked with great urgency.
“This is completely unacceptable,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “We demand full accountability.” He confirmed the death of Australian aid worker Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom. The young woman can be seen in a video from March 25 explaining that she will distribute “wonderful smelling rice” to those in need.
United Nations emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths wrote on X: “They were heroes. They were killed trying to feed starving people.”
Israel promises investigation by independent body
The Israeli military announced that it would investigate the deaths of the aid workers. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said he spoke with WCK founder Chief José Andrés and expressed the Israel Defense Forces’ “deepest condolences to the families and the entire WCK family.” “We will open an investigation to further examine this serious incident. This will help us reduce the risk of such an incident happening again.” He spoke of an investigation by an independent and professional committee of experts.
The US organization WCK confirmed the deaths of the seven employees this morning. WCK was traveling with a convoy of two armored vehicles with the aid organization’s logo and one unarmored vehicle. The organization blamed the Israeli army for this.
WCK said the convoy was hit “despite coordination of movements with the IDF (Israeli Army)” as it was leaving the warehouse in Deir al-Balah in the center of the Gaza Strip. The team unloaded a hundred tons of emergency aid there, which were delivered by sea. The organization announced that it would temporarily stop its work in the Gaza Strip.
Five bodies were seen in footage from Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Several of them wore protective clothing with the World Central Kitchen logo.
WCK founder: Israel must “stop indiscriminate killing”
WCK founder Andrés said on the online service X that night that the group had “lost several of our sisters and brothers” in an attack by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. He is heartbroken and mourns with their families and friends. “The Israeli government must stop this indiscriminate killing,” he demanded. “It must stop restricting humanitarian aid, killing civilians and aid workers and using food as a weapon.”
WCK delivers groceries and prepares meals for those in need. The organization said it served more than 42 million meals in the Gaza Strip in 175 days last month. On “Our more than 60 kitchens in southern and central Gaza cook hundreds of thousands of meals every day,” WCK said.
Clemens Verenkotte, ARD Tel Aviv, tagesschau, April 2nd, 2024 8:36 a.m