World Central Kitchen announced today, Tuesday, the death of 7 of its staff members following an "Israeli airstrike" in the Gaza Strip, and decided to temporarily suspend its operations in the area.

The organization confirmed in a statement reported by Reuters agency "the killing of 7 members of our team in an Israeli Defense Forces airstrike in Gaza," adding that the team "was moving in two cars bearing the organization's logo, and the convoy was targeted despite coordinating movements with the Israeli army."

The statement indicated that the convoy "was moving from a warehouse in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, after transferring more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought through the maritime passage to the Strip."

It also clarified that the seven dead hold Australian, Polish, British, American, Canadian, and Palestinian nationalities.

The organization decided to suspend its work in the area temporarily, and that it will make decisions about its future soon, according to the statement.

For her part, the organization's executive director, Irene Gor, said in the statement: "This is not just an attack on World Central Kitchen, but on all humanitarian organizations working in the worst conditions, where food is used as a weapon of war."

The Israeli army had announced earlier on Monday that a "comprehensive review at the highest levels" is underway to understand the circumstances of this "tragic" incident.

It added in a statement  "The Israeli Defense Forces are making great efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and are working closely with World Central Kitchen in its vital efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza."

Meanwhile, the Israeli army spokesman stated on Tuesday that "an independent, professional, and experienced body" will investigate the killing of 7 relief workers working for the World Central Kitchen organization in Gaza, whom the NGO said died as a result of an Israeli airstrike.

The Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, said that the incident will be investigated through the "fact-finding and assessment mechanism," which he described in a statement as "an independent, professional, and experienced body," without giving details.

He added: "We will open an investigation to further scrutinize the circumstances of this serious incident. This will help us avoid repetition.. We are committed to examining our operations thoroughly and transparently." 

He explained that he spoke to the organization's founder, Chef José Andrés, and expressed his sincere condolences. He continued: "We also express sincere sorrow to the allied countries that have made and continue to make great efforts to help those in need."

International reactions

Commenting on the killing of these World Central Kitchen workers, the spokeswoman for the US National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, said: "We feel deep sadness and distress over the strike that led to the death of relief workers at World Central Kitchen in Gaza."

She continued: "Humanitarian relief workers must be protected while delivering much-needed aid, and we urge Israel to quickly investigate what happened."

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the death of an Australian citizen during the incident.

Albanese said that volunteer Lalsawmi "Zomi" Frankom was doing "very valuable work" distributing food in the Gaza Strip, stressing that his country "will seek full and appropriate accountability" for those responsible for her death.

He added: "I offer condolences to the family and friends of Australian relief worker Zomi Frankom who was killed in Gaza." 

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its condolences to the family of the volunteer who holds its nationality, and the ministry said in a post on the X platform on Tuesday: "We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the volunteer who was providing assistance to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."

It added, "Poland objects to the disregard of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including those working in the humanitarian field."

Reuters also quoted Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski as saying that he requested an "urgent explanation" from the Israeli ambassador regarding the death of the volunteer.

The chef who founded World Central Kitchen, José Andrés, expressed his sadness and sorrow for the families and friends of those who died in the attack.

He wrote on the X platform yesterday, "The Israeli government must stop this indiscriminate killing. It must stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and relief workers, and stop using food as a weapon. No more innocent lives lost. Peace begins with our shared humanity. And it must begin now."

 For its part, China expressed its "shock" over the incident, and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that Beijing "opposes any act that harms civilians and destroys civilian infrastructure or violates international law," adding "We condemn" this attack.

What is "World Central Kitchen"?

It is a non-profit organization based in the United States, defining itself as the first responders on the front lines during natural disasters and exceptional situations, as they are "the first responders to provide fresh meals in response to humanitarian, climatic, and community crises."

It was founded by Chef José Andrés, and its interest is to provide fresh meals during crises, while working to build resilient food systems with locally led solutions.

Since it began its work in 2010, the organization has delivered food to communities affected by natural disasters and refugees on the US borders, healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic, and to people in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Last month, the organization said it had provided more than 42 million meals in Gaza over 175 days.

The organization sent the first maritime shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

After weeks of preparation, its team in Cyprus loaded nearly 200 tons of food supplies aboard the Open Arms boat, which delivered the aid to the Strip.

The organization previously said in this regard: "Once we get there, we will distribute food to the population who are now on the brink of famine."

The organization noted that it worked with its partners in Gaza to build a dock for small boats which will be used to unload aid before loading it onto trucks that will deliver the food.

It added: "Our team has another 500 tons of aid in Cyprus ready to be loaded on future boats."

The organization commenced its operations in Larnaca, a coastal city in southern Cyprus, where its procurement and logistics team supplies, packages, and loads rice, flour, legumes, canned vegetables, and canned proteins to be delivered to Gaza.