WHO chief condemns killing of foreign aid workers in Gaza
3 Min Read
The aid workers were part of a US-based charity organization called World Central Kitchen and were sent on a mission to deliver food to civilians in the Strip.
-
People inspect the site where World Central Kitchen workers were killed in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, April 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed outrage on Tuesday over the killing of seven foreign aid workers in Gaza, who died as a result of a targeted airstrike by Israeli forces.
The aid workers were part of a US-based charity organization called World Central Kitchen and were sent on a mission to deliver food to civilians in the Strip.
"How many more lives will be lost until there's a cease-fire? We are outraged by the killing of humanitarian workers in Gaza," Ghebreyesus said on X.
"Safety is a basic requirement for the delivery of life-saving aid. Our deepest condolences to the WCKitchen team and affected families. We once again call for the sustained protection of humanitarian workers across Gaza," he added.
How many more lives will be lost until there's a ceasefire?
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2024
We are outraged by the killing of humanitarian workers in #Gaza. Safety is a basic requirement for the delivery of life-saving aid.
Our deepest condolences to the @WCKitchen team and affected families.
We once again… https://t.co/Mj4pQc2F1f
The WCK charity stated in a release issued earlier that its "team was traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo, as well as a soft-skinned vehicle."
The statement added that the convoy was struck as it departed from the group's warehouse in the southern city of Deir al-Balah, despite there being coordinating movement with the Israeli army.
This is where the team had unloaded over 100 tons of humanitarian food aid that had been brought to Gaza via a maritime route.
"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," said CEO Erin Gore.
The seven charity workers who were killed hailed from Australia, Poland, the UK, and Palestine, along with a dual citizen of the US and Canada.
Read more: Algerian plans carrying 168 tons of aid to Gaza land in Egypt
Earlier today, the Polish Foreign Ministry sent its condolences to the family of the Polish aid worker who was killed in the aggression. Authorities vowed to initiate an investigation into the matter.
"There is no exception here, of course every death must be explained and such proceedings should be initiated here," Deputy Justice Minister Arkadiusz Myrcha said.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the 🇵🇱 volunteer who was providing aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇵🇱 (@PolandMFA) April 2, 2024
Poland objects to the disregard for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers.
Hamas said it condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli targeting of workers and said that such a crime proves once again the genocidal nature of "Israel's" policy towards unarmed civilians and aid workers.
The Resistance noted that such strategies are meant to terrorize aid workers in order to prevent them from providing assistance to those in need.
Hamas called on the international community and the UN Security Council to condemn the aggression and take action to put an end to the Israeli crimes and aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
