On Monday, seven employees of the non-profit organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed by Israeli airstrikes while on a mission to deliver food to civilians in Gaza. WCK CEO Erin Gore expressed her deep sadness by calling them heroes and mentioning that they were returning from a full day’s mission when they were struck by the IDF. She also stated that their memories will always be cherished by the organization.
The employees who lost their lives were Saifeddin Issam Aydan Abutaha, Lalzawami Frankcom, Damian Soból, Jacob Flickinger, John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby. They were part of the WCK relief and security teams. These workers had just delivered more than 100 tons of food to a warehouse in Gaza before the incident occurred in a deconflicted zone in central Gaza.
WCK was founded by celebrity chef José Andrés and has been active in providing food to over 1 million people in Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister acknowledged the incident as a tragic event and an unintended strike that happened in the midst of war. Andrés called on the Israeli government to stop the indiscriminate killing of innocent lives and prevent any further tragedies. The organization recently sent two ships carrying tons of food to Gaza as part of their ongoing efforts to provide aid to the region.
The losses of these employees have been mourned by their friends and relatives, many of whom had participated in aid efforts around the world following wars and natural disasters. Despite this tragic event, WCK remains committed to its mission of providing food and support to those in need.
