The World Central Kitchen has revealed the faces of the Seven beautiful souls that were killed by the Israel Defense Force in a strike as they were returning from a full day’s mission on Tuesday.
This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the World Central Kitchen, Erin Gore who said in a statement released on Wednesday that these aid workers’ smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in their memories.
He said, “And we have countless memories of them giving their best selves to the world. We are reeling from our loss. The world’s loss.” Earlier narrated that these workers lost their lives when traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo and a soft skin vehicle.
It was reported that despite coordinating movements with the IDF, their convoy was hit as it was leaving Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route.
World Central Kitchen has said is pausing its operations immediately in the region. “We will be making decisions about the future of our work soon”, CEO said. The IDF in its statement says is “carrying out an in-depth examination at highest levels to understand circumstances of this tragic incident.”
The United States Agency for International Development in a statement on Tuesday said these seven humanitarians killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza yesterday were there to do one thing to help get food to desperate, starving people.
This, according to the USAID Administrator, Samantha Power expresed sadness, saying their deaths, and the deaths of more than 30,000 Palestinians and 200 humanitarian workers in this conflict, are devastating and deeply alarming.
She said, “More aid workers have been killed in the six months of this war than during any previous conflict. We acknowledge Israel’s commitment to conduct a comprehensive investigation into how yesterday’s strike occurred.
“And as President Biden said, that investigation must be swift, it must bring accountability, and its findings must be made public.
“But what is clear is that the Government of Israel must do far more to protect aid workers and protect civilians from the unacceptable levels of casualties they continue to experience as a result of IDF military operations.
Power who lamented that with nearly the entire population in Gaza living under the threat of Famine, hailed the team at World Central Kitchen (WCK) for being relentlessly working to get assistance to those in need.
“They have been on the ground throughout this conflict, serving people hot meals wherever they can and using every tool at their disposal to reach desperate families. Every day, they, along with countless other humanitarian workers, are putting their lives at risk to help others.
“On behalf of USAID, I have shared with the WCK Founder José Andrés our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those killed. Our thoughts goes out to the members of the broader humanitarian community, who’re mourning this devastating loss”, she said.
USAID Boss vowed that the Agency and its partners will continue to do all it can to deliver humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, while called on the Government of Israel and the Israeli Force to do much more to facilitate this work.
“We will continue to press Israel to create the conditions to ensure safety of humanitarian actors and activities, open additional land crossings, remove impediments to delivery of humanitarian aid, and do far more to prevent the killing of humanitarian workers and innocent civilians”, she said.
In a statement, the European Union High Representative, Josep Borell said the killing by Israeli Defence Forces of seven members of a humanitarian team of World Central Kitchen, while they were travelling to deliver food to the most vulnerable in Gaza, is appalling.
While the EU urged a swift implementation of the announced commitment by the Israeli authority to conduct thorough investigation and ensure accountability for those who are responsible.
The Commission recalled the Israeli obligation under International Humanitarian Law to protect humanitarian workers at all times. “A high number of humanitarian workers have lost their lives since the beginning of the war in Gaza”.
The EU commended the invaluable work of the UN and all humanitarian actors to deliver lifesaving aid in extremely dire conditions in Gaza. “We urge Israel to fulfil the obligation to allow a full, safe, unhindered humanitarian access to those in need.
“The UNSC resolution 2728 has demanded an immediate ceasefire leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered provisional measures which are binding for the Parties. While expects their full, immediate and effective implementation”.