(CNN) — World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder accuses Israel of systematically attacking aid workers in Gaza
In a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers on Monday, World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder has accused Israel of targeting its aid workers “systematically, car by car.” This incident has sparked growing international fury over Israel’s actions in Gaza, putting further pressure on its war efforts.
WCK has demanded an independent investigation into the attacks, which targeted three WCK vehicles in central Gaza. Despite Israel admitting to the deaths, they attributed it to unintentional harm to non-combatants during wartime. However, WCK claims that these were deliberate attacks on civilian vehicles transporting aid workers.
The seven victims included three Britons, a Palestinian, a US-Canadian dual citizen, an Australian, and a Pole. The international community has expressed outrage over the attacks, leading to increased scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
In an interview with Reuters, WCK founder, celebrity chef José Andrés, accused Israel of deliberately targeting humanitarian workers. He emphasized that such attacks on civilians are unacceptable in any circumstances, even during wartime.
Israel’s Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi apologized for the attack, describing it as a mistake due to misidentification during complex nighttime conditions. The victims’ countries have called for accountability and transparency in the investigation.
The response to the attacks has heightened tensions in the victims’ countries, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese demanding answers and accountability. The United States, as Israel’s key ally, has expressed disappointment and frustration over the incident.
As the world watches the aftermath of this tragic event, concerns loom over the safety of distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza. A WCK-linked ship carrying humanitarian aid left Gaza without unloading most of its cargo following the attack, further exacerbating the dire situation in the region.
The death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with over 33,000 Palestinians and hundreds of aid workers falling victim to the ongoing conflict. The international community awaits further developments following this devastating attack.
(CNN’s Benjamin Brown, Irene Nasser, MJ Lee, Angus Watson, Allegra Goodwin, and Gianluca Mezzofiore contributed to this report.)