World Central Kitchen team members killed in Gaza

April 2, 2024·Darcie

We've written several times about World Central Kitchen, the humanitarian aid group founded by chef José Andrés in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Since then, the group has been on the front lines of natural disasters, armed conflicts, and other crises. Today we learned the devastating news that seven WCK team members in Gaza were killed in a strike by the IDF. The IDF quickly responded, saying that the attack was a terrible mistake.

On the WCK website, its CEO Erin Gore denounced the strike. “This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” she said. The IDF says it is “carrying out an in-depth examination at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident.”

WCK says it is suspending operations in the region and will soon decide what they will be doing going forward. Our condolences go to the family and friends of the workers so needlessly killed. You can learn more about the seven WCK members here. If you would like to donate to WCK, visit their website and click on the red Donate button in the upper right corner.

7 comments

Indio32April 3, 2024

Utterly appalling.

TonyfromIndiaApril 3, 2024

There have been at least 196 aid workers killed by the Israelis in Gaza - incl 175 UN workers. Plus 95 journalists & media workers. Given this disproportionate number compared to other conflicts, how can at least some or most of them not be deliberate targeted killings? The world should be outraged at what Netanyahu's extreme right wing govt is doing in an attempt to wipe out Palestine.

PlutarchApril 3, 2024

The IDF are using some of the most modern, advanced and accurate weaponry available. There can be no excuse for this strike and those which have befallen other aid workers during this totally disproportionate attack on Gaza. Netanyahu dismisses this as something which happens in war, yes it does, but here, in this situation where the IDF is facing little more than small arms fire? I think not.
At best this was the result of negligence, at worst, a deliberate targeted attack on innocent non belligerents.

mzgourmandApril 3, 2024

The deaths of these aid workers - each one an incredible human being - is absolutely heartbreaking. But they do not justify or whitewash the dishonest comments made by TonyfromIndia and Plutarch - which are, at best, appalling. Hamas is to blame. Hamas which broke an existing ceasefire, refuses to return all hostages, refuises to lay down its arms. But is Israel that is always held to a different standard because Jews who dare to fire back are Jews who defy the destiny the world would assign them. Israel is not trying to "wipe out Palestine." That is hate speech, not simply rhetoric or political hyperbole. The United States and Britain, as per Plutarch's critique of the IDF/Israel also have incredibly advanced weaponry skills, and their roles in upending Iraq & Afghanistan is of course part of the cause of so much current Middle Eastern chaos, but why is it Israel that bears the moral and political blame? Or George Bush the first whose "justified" assault on Iraq left 800,000 civilian deaths dead - a number that put into perspective the 30,000 dead (8-10,000 of whom are Hamas fighters) Palestinians. The hypocrisy sickening, as is the loss of life - which Hams, using human shields - put into motion. Stop blaming the IDF and Israel for what the world has wrought.

Indio32April 4, 2024

As I said the targeting of charity aid workers is utterly appalling but I really don’t think that this is the place to discuss the politics of this. I hope we can get back to cookbooks, food and eating related subjects. ?

tboclyApril 5, 2024

Absolutely heartbreaking and I agree with Indio32 that it is utterly appalling.

dzeldazApril 10, 2024

Politics is not a good look for EYB. Someone's biases are showing.