Seven assist employees with World Central Kitchen have been killed within the Gaza Strip when their convoy got here beneath hearth on Monday night time, in keeping with the help group and Gazan well being officers.
The catastrophe reduction group, based by the Spanish chef José Andrés, mentioned the convoy was hit in an Israeli strike. In an announcement following the assault, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel referred to a “tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting harmless folks.” He mentioned Israel was in contact with overseas governments over the episode.
Right here’s what we all know.
The convoy of three autos had simply left a meals warehouse.
The World Central Kitchen employees members have been leaving a warehouse in Deir al Balah, a metropolis within the central Gaza Strip, when their convoy — two armored automobiles and a 3rd automobile — got here beneath hearth late Monday, the group mentioned in an announcement.
The Israeli army had been knowledgeable of the help employees’ actions, the charity mentioned. Assist employees had simply unloaded greater than 100 tons of meals dropped at Gaza by sea on the warehouse, in keeping with the group.
Movies and photographs verified by The New York Occasions counsel the convoy was hit a number of instances. The imagery exhibits three destroyed white autos, with the northernmost and southernmost autos almost a mile and a half aside.
The World Central Kitchen brand might be seen on objects contained in the charred interiors of the northernmost and southernmost automobiles. The automobile within the center was left with a gaping gap in its roof, which was clearly marked with the group’s brand. All three autos, although far other than one another, have been on or close to the Al-Rashid coastal highway.
It remained unclear on Tuesday morning what kind of munition struck the automobiles and whether or not these explosives have been launched from the bottom, a warplane or a drone.
Six overseas residents and a Palestinian have been killed.
World Central Kitchen mentioned a kind of killed was a twin citizen of america and Canada, whereas the others have been from Australia, Britain, Gaza and Poland. In a submit with the victims’ names and ages on the group’s web site, its chief govt, Erin Gore, mentioned “We’re reeling from our loss.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia recognized one of many victims as Zomi Frankcom, an Australian citizen and a senior supervisor at World Central Kitchen. “The tributes flowing for Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom inform the story of a life devoted to the service of others, together with her fellow Australians throughout pure disasters,” Penny Wong, the nation’s overseas minister, mentioned on social media.
Damian Sobol, an assist employee from the southeastern Polish metropolis of Przemysl, died within the assault, in keeping with town’s mayor, Wojciech Bakun. “There aren’t any phrases to explain what individuals who knew this incredible man really feel at this second,” he mentioned in a submit on social media.
David Cameron, the British overseas secretary, mentioned on social media that three of the help employees who have been killed have been British residents. The BBC reported their names: John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby. Native British media retailers described Mr. Chapman and Mr. Henderson as former Royal Marines who later turned to volunteer work.
Jacob Flickinger, who additionally died within the assault, was a 33-year-old twin citizen of america and Canada, in keeping with the World Central Kitchen, and labored on the group’s reduction group.
Palestinian medics retrieved the our bodies of the seven victims and took them to a hospital in Deir al Balah, in keeping with the Palestine Crimson Crescent Society. The our bodies of the foreigners have been to be taken out of Gaza into Egypt, the group mentioned.
Saif Abutaha, a 25-year-old Gazan working as a driver and translator for World Central Kitchen, additionally died within the assault. Mr. Abutaha was an enterprising younger man who labored in his father’s enterprise and spoke good English, his brother Shadi mentioned.
Mr. Abutaha and different World Central Kitchen employees have been thrilled to have the chance to unload the desperately wanted meals assist. “They have been so excited, like they have been going to a marriage,” his brother mentioned. It was the final time he noticed him.
Mr. Cameron mentioned on social media that “it’s important that humanitarian employees are protected and in a position to perform their work.” He referred to as on Israel “to right away examine and supply a full, clear rationalization of what occurred.”
At the least 196 assist employees have been killed in Gaza and the West Financial institution between October 2023 and late March, in keeping with Jamie McGoldrick, a senior U.N. reduction official. “This isn’t an remoted incident,” he mentioned, later including: “There isn’t any protected place left in Gaza.”
The prime minister appeared to take accountability for the ‘unintentional’ assault.
In a video assertion on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel referred to a “tragic case of our forces unintentionally harming harmless folks within the Gaza Strip.” Mr. Netanyahu didn’t identify World Central Kitchen in his remarks.
However an Israeli official conversant in the matter, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of the strike was nonetheless beneath investigation, clarified that the prime minister was referring to the strike.
“It occurs in battle, we’re absolutely inspecting this, we’re in touch with the governments, and we’ll do every little thing in order that this factor doesn’t occur once more,” Mr. Netanyahu mentioned.
An Israeli army official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate an inside investigation, mentioned the army had concluded it was liable for the strike on the convoy. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the Israeli army chief of employees, is predicted to evaluate findings of an preliminary inquiry into the incident on Tuesday night, the official mentioned.
A spokesman for Israel’s army, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, mentioned the investigation had been referred to the Reality Discovering and Evaluation Mechanism, a army physique tasked with investigating accusations and looking out into the circumstances behind battlefield episodes. “We might be opening a probe to look at this severe incident additional,” he mentioned. “This may assist us scale back the danger of such an occasion from occurring once more.”
The Israeli army mentioned the mechanism was an “unbiased, skilled and professional physique.” Human rights teams have typically been crucial of the Israeli army’s potential to transparently examine itself, charging that inquiries are sometimes lengthy and barely result in indictments.
The World Central Kitchen assist ship is headed again to Cyprus.
On the time of the strike, employees had unloaded 100 tons of assist from the Jennifer, a World Central Kitchen vessel that had left the Cypriot port of Larnaca final weekend and arrived in Gaza on Monday. One other 240 tons have been to be unloaded on Tuesday, in keeping with Theodoros Gotsis, a spokesman for the Cypriot overseas ministry.
Mr. Gotsis mentioned that the Jennifer as an alternative left Gaza to sail again to Larnaca on Tuesday. He added that a number of extra tons of assist have been ready at warehouses in Larnaca, however that it was not clear when and whether or not a mission to ship them would happen.
Patrick Kingsley, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Gabby Sobelman, Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Lauren Leatherby, Nader Ibrahim and Kim Severson contributed reporting to this text.
