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Israel Gaza: Food charity says aid workers killed in strike Israel Gaza: Food charity says aid workers killed in strike
(about 1 hour later)
The bodies were taken to a hospital in GazaThe bodies were taken to a hospital in Gaza
Aid workers including an Australian and two people said to be British and Polish have been killed in Gaza, in what their charity founder said was an Israeli attack. Seven aid workers have been killed in Gaza in what their charity's founder said was an Israeli air strike.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder and chef José Andrés said his staff had been killed "in an IDF air strike". World Central Kitchen (WCK) said workers from countries including the UK, Poland and Australia were killed.
Gaza's Hamas-run media office also blamed Israel. The alleged strike could not be verified independently. 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".
Israel's military said it was conducting a "thorough review". Gaza's Hamas-run media office also blamed Israel.
The alleged strike could not be immediately verified independently.
A journalist working for the BBC in Gaza has seen the bodies of three international aid workers and a Palestinian driver, recovered from the site of the alleged air strike. Foreign passports were also shown.A journalist working for the BBC in Gaza has seen the bodies of three international aid workers and a Palestinian driver, recovered from the site of the alleged air strike. Foreign passports were also shown.
The group are said to have been involved in co-ordinating the arrival of another boat carrying food aid to central Gaza. 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.
"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 charity's CEO Erin Gore said in a statement.
"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".
Ms Gore said 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.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.""Humanitarian aid workers must be protected as they deliver aid that is desperately needed, and we urge Israel to swiftly investigate what happened."
A medical source at al-Aqsa hospital in the central Gaza Strip told the BBC that the bodies of the four workers and their Palestinian driver had been brought to the hospital after a car they were travelling in on the coastal road was hit by an air strike at Deir al-Balah. Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom appeared in a World Food Kitchen (WFK) video last week
Further details of the alleged attack are still emerging.
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.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."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 said Australia expected "full accountability", adding that it was a "tragedy that should never have occurred".He said Australia expected "full accountability", adding that it was a "tragedy that should never have occurred".
The World Central Kitchen logo could be seen
A Palestinian medical source told the BBC the workers had been wearing bullet-proof vests bearing the WCK logo. The charity is currently providing meals for thousands of people in Gaza.A Palestinian medical source told the BBC the workers had been wearing bullet-proof vests bearing the WCK logo. The charity is currently providing meals for thousands of people in Gaza.
In a statement, the WCK said it was "aware of reports" that members of its team had been "killed in an IDF [Israel Defense Forces] attack while working to support our humanitarian food delivery efforts in Gaza".
"This is a tragedy. Humanitarian aid workers and civilians should never be a target, ever. We will share more information when we have gathered all the facts," it added.
In a post on X, Mr Andrés, a celebrity chef, called on the Israeli government "to stop this indiscriminate killing".In a post on X, Mr Andrés, a celebrity chef, called on the Israeli government "to stop this indiscriminate killing".
The charity recently made headlines for providing hundreds of tonnes of food for Gazans that arrived on the first aid ship.The charity recently made headlines for providing hundreds of tonnes of food for Gazans that arrived on the first aid ship.
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".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."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".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.The UK Foreign Office and Polish foreign ministry have been contacted for comment.
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