Israel/Gaza: Charity Pauses Gaza Aid Work after Staff Killed

At least seven aid workers have died as Israel launched another airstrike in Gaza.

According to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers that lost their lives were from UK, Poland and Australia.

WCK later said in a statement that seven of its team had been killed and were Australian, Polish, British, Palestinian and a dual US-Canadian citizen.

WCK founder and chef José Andrés said they were killed "in an IDF air strike". The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was conducting a "thorough review".

Gaza's Hamas-run media office also blamed Israel, although the alleged strike could not be immediately verified independently.

"I am heartbroken and appalled that we - World Central Kitchen and the world - lost beautiful lives today because of a targeted attack by the IDF. The love they had for feeding people, the determination they embodied to show that humanity rises above all, and the impact they made in countless lives will forever be remembered and cherished", the charity's CEO Erin Gore said in a statement.

Ms Gore, however, said that WCK was pausing its operations immediately in the region.

She added that those killed were part of a convoy that was hit while leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse in central Gaza, "where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route."

Further details of the alleged attack are still emerging.

Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said on X: "We are heartbroken and deeply troubled by the strike that killed [WCK] aid workers in Gaza.

"Humanitarian aid workers must be protected as they deliver aid that is desperately needed, and we urge Israel to swiftly investigate what happened."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that aid worker Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom was among those killed and has offered his condolences to family and friends.

In a statement, he said: "This is someone who was volunteering overseas to provide aid through this charity for people who are suffering tremendous deprivation in Gaza. And this is just completely unacceptable."

He stated that "full accountability", adding that it was a "tragedy that should never have occurred".

Commenting on the reports, the IDF said it was conducting a thorough review at the highest level to understand the circumstances of this "tragic incident".

"The IDF makes extensive efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, and has been working closely with WCK in their vital efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," it added.

Prior to confirmation that an Australian national had been killed in the incident, the Australian foreign ministry said: "We have been very clear that we expect humanitarian workers in Gaza to have safe and unimpeded access to do their lifesaving work".

The UK Foreign Office and Polish foreign ministry have been contacted for comment.

See also: Benjamin Netanyahu Protests Reignite Political Divisions in Israel