The aid workers were part of a US-based charity organization called World Central Kitchen and were sent on a mission to deliver food to civilians in the Strip.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed outrage on Tuesday over the killing of seven foreign aid workers in Gaza, who died as a result of a targeted airstrike by Israeli forces.
The aid workers were part of a US-based charity organization called World Central Kitchen and were sent on a mission to deliver food to civilians in the Strip.
“How many more lives will be lost until there’s a cease-fire? We are outraged by the killing of humanitarian workers in Gaza,” Ghebreyesus said on X.
“Safety is a basic requirement for the delivery of life-saving aid. Our deepest condolences to the WCKitchen team and affected families. We once again call for the sustained protection of humanitarian workers across Gaza,” he added.
The WCK charity stated in a release issued earlier that its “team was traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo, as well as a soft-skinned vehicle.”
The statement added that the convoy was struck as it departed from the group’s warehouse in the southern city of Deir al-Balah, despite there being coordinating movement with the Israeli army.
This is where the team had unloaded over 100 tons of humanitarian food aid that had been brought to Gaza via a maritime route.
“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said CEO Erin Gore.
The seven charity workers who were killed hailed from Australia, Poland, the UK, and Palestine, along with a dual citizen of the US and Canada.
Earlier today, the Polish Foreign Ministry sent its condolences to the family of the Polish aid worker who was killed in the aggression. Authorities vowed to initiate an investigation into the matter.
“There is no exception here, of course every death must be explained and such proceedings should be initiated here,” Deputy Justice Minister Arkadiusz Myrcha said.
Source: AlMayadeen
