Tragedy Strikes: International Aid Workers Killed in Gaza
GENEVA — In a devastating turn of events, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has declared Gaza as the “most lethal place in the world to be an aid worker” following the killing of international charity workers by an Israeli air strike.
Israeli airstrikes targeted World Central Kitchen aid workers who were delivering food in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals, including a U.S.-Canada dual citizen and citizens of Australia, Poland, and the United Kingdom this past Monday.
“There is an uncomfortable reality that until Monday, to the best of my knowledge, all of the aid workers killed (to that point) have been Palestinians,” revealed IRC Senior Vice President of International Programs Ciarán Donnelly in an interview with the Associated Press.
Donnelly emphasized the heightened global attention towards the safety of humanitarian workers, especially in light of the nationalities of those who lost their lives in the recent attack.
Prior to this tragic incident, Donnelly disclosed that a total of 196 humanitarian workers and 350 healthcare workers had already lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Although Donnelly refrained from speculating on the motives behind the Israeli Defense Forces’ actions, he criticized the conduct of the Gaza war, stating that it does not adhere to the protections outlined in international humanitarian law.
Israel has admitted to the accidental nature of the strikes and has initiated an independent investigation into the matter.
Following the attack, World Central Kitchen, the charity established by renowned chef José Andrés, immediately halted its operations in the region, dealing a significant blow to the recently established sea route for food aid. Ships carrying essential supplies departed from Gaza shortly after their arrival just one day earlier. — Euronews
