Seven assist staff with World Central Kitchen have been killed within the Gaza Strip when their convoy got here below hearth on Monday night time, based on the help group and Gazan well being officers.
The catastrophe aid group, based by the Spanish chef José Andrés, mentioned the convoy was hit in an Israeli strike. In a press release 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 automobiles 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 below hearth late Monday, the group mentioned in a press release.
The Israeli army had been knowledgeable of the help staff’ actions, the charity mentioned. Support staff had simply unloaded greater than 100 tons of meals delivered to Gaza by sea on the warehouse, based on the group.
Movies and photographs verified by The New York Occasions counsel the convoy was hit a number of occasions. The imagery reveals three destroyed white automobiles, with the northernmost and southernmost automobiles practically a mile and a half aside.
The World Central Kitchen brand could possibly 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 automobiles, although far aside from 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 type of killed was a twin citizen of the US 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, based on town’s mayor, Wojciech Bakun. “There aren’t any phrases to explain what individuals who knew this improbable man really feel at this second,” he mentioned in a submit on social media.
David Cameron, the British overseas secretary, said on social media that three of the help staff 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 the US and Canada, based on the World Central Kitchen, and labored on the group’s aid group.
Palestinian medics retrieved the our bodies of the seven victims and took them to a hospital in Deir al Balah, based on the Palestine Pink 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 staff 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 staff are protected and capable of perform their work.” He referred to as on Israel “to instantly examine and supply a full, clear rationalization of what occurred.”
At the least 196 assist staff have been killed in Gaza and the West Financial institution between October 2023 and late March, based on Jamie McGoldrick, a senior U.N. aid official. “This isn’t an remoted incident,” he mentioned, later including: “There is no such thing as a secure place left in Gaza.”
The prime minister appeared to take duty 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 title 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 below investigation, clarified that the prime minister was referring to the strike.
“It occurs in warfare, we’re absolutely analyzing this, we’re in touch with the governments, and we are going to do all the pieces 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 anticipated to evaluation 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 Truth Discovering and Evaluation Mechanism, a army physique tasked with investigating accusations and looking out into the circumstances behind battlefield episodes. “We will likely be opening a probe to look at this severe incident additional,” he mentioned. “This can assist us cut back the chance 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 capacity to transparently examine itself, charging that inquiries are sometimes lengthy and infrequently result in indictments.
The World Central Kitchen assist ship is headed again to Cyprus.
On the time of the strike, staff 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, based on 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.
