World Central Kitchen aid convoy attack

World Central Kitchen drone strikes
Part of Israel–Hamas war
Location	Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories
Date	1 April 2024
Target	Three World Central Kitchen cars
Attack type	Drone strikes
Deaths	7
Injured	Unknown
Perpetrators	Israeli Defense Forces

On 1 April 2024, an Israeli drone fired three consecutive missiles at three cars belonging to the World Central Kitchen (WCK), killing seven aid workers who had been distributing food in the northern Gaza Strip, which is experiencing an ongoing famine caused by Israel's siege and blockade during the Israel-Hamas war.

While the three WCK cars were driving away after having escorted a truck to a food warehouse, an Israeli drone fired a missile at one of them, and the aid workers affected were transferred to one of the two remaining cars, which continued driving and notified the Israeli military that they had been attacked. Nevertheless, another missile hit their car a few seconds later after it had traveled around 800 meters. Wounded survivors in the second car were transferred to the third car and had traveled around 1.6 kilometers before a third missile from the Israeli drone struck it, killing all seven aid workers. World Central Kitchen said that it had coordinated its movements with the Israeli Defense Force when the convoy was hit.

The seven killed aid workers were taken to Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah and were seen wearing protective gear showing the charity's logo. They held American, Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and Canadian citizenships. The charity in a statement said that it had coordinated the convoy's movements with the Israeli military. Israel opened an investigation into the incident, and stated that a militant had climbed the truck that was being escorted by the WCK cars before they left the food warehouse.

The attack led the World Central Kitchen to pause its operations in the Gaza Strip, and its chief executive Erin Gore said in a statement: "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." Gore called the drone strikes a "targeted attack" by the Israeli military. The attack also received international condemnations. A Bellingcat investigation reported that the attack held "hallmarks of an Israeli precision strike."

Background

The drone strikes came hours after the WCK charity brought shipload of food to the northern Gaza Strip, which has been pushed close to famine by Israel's invasion and blockade during the Israel-Hamas war. More than 173 UNRWA staff have been killed by Israeli forces during the Israel-Hamas war.

Drone strikes

On 1 April 2024, an Israeli drone fired three missiles consecutively at a three-car World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid convoy, killing all seven aid workers in them. The cars had left Monday night to escort an aid truck that was heading to a food warehouse in Deir al-Balah in the central region of the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli military sources an armed man was seen on the truck, which had arrived at the warehouse. Both the truck and the armed man had stayed in the warehouse, but the three cars left on a coordinated and pre-approved route with the Israeli military.

While driving after having left the food warehouse, an Israeli drone fired a missile at one of the three WCK cars, and the aid workers affected were transferred to one of the two remaining cars, which continued driving and notified the Israeli military that they had been attacked. Nevertheless, another missile hit their car a few seconds later. Wounded survivors in the second car were being transferred to the third car when a third missile from the drone struck, killing all seven. An Israeli drone fired three missiles according to defense sources because "the war room of the unit responsible for security of the route that the convoy traveled identified an armed man on the truck and suspected that he was a terrorist." According to Haaretz, the armed man did not travel on the convoi, as he had stayed with the truck at the warehouse. WCK said the strike occurred in spite of vehicle logos and "coordinating movements" with Israeli forces in the "deconflicted zone".

Victims

Seven people were killed who were recovered by the Palestine Red Crescent Society in a “challenging operation” and taken to Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, and were seen wearing protective gear showing the charity's logo, then they were taken to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in southern Gaza to be evacuated to Egypt. Among the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were confirmed British, Australian, Polish, Palestinian and dual American-Canadian nationals. The casualties included:

• Saif Abu Taha, a 26-years old Palestinian local from Rafah.
• Damian Soból, a 35-years old Polish national from Przemyśl. Soból has worked with the WCK since 2022, engaging in relief efforts in Russian-invaded Ukraine. In February 2023, he traveled to earthquake-stricken Elbistan in Turkey with aid. In September 2023, he helped earthquake victims in Morocco. He then helped Gaza refugees in Egypt and then in Gaza itself.
• Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, an Australian national
• James Henderson, a 33-years old British national who reportedly had served in the Royal Marines
• John Antony Chapman, a 57-years old British national who reportedly had served in the Royal Marines
• James Kirby, a British national
• A dual Canadian-American citizen

Investigation

Bellingcat completed a visual investigation and reported that the attack on the aid workers held "hallmarks of an Israeli precision strike." The first targeted car was geolocated at 31.4118 34.3231; while the second was geolocated at 31.4168, 34.3290; and the third at 31.4005, 34.3115. The second vehicle was hit by another missile around 800 meters away from the first vehicle, and the third by another third missile 1.6 kilometers away from the first vehicle. The first two locations of the vehicles were on a road identified by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as being an “Accessible Road for Humanitarian Aid,” while the third was in a field immediately next to this road.

Aftermath

The incident led the World Central Kitchen and the U.S.-based American Near East Refugee Aid to pause their operations in the Gaza Strip.

Reactions

WCK chief executive Erin Gore said in a statement: "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." Gore continued: "We — World Central Kitchen and the world — lost beautiful lives today because of a targeted attack by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)." Spanish chef José Andrés, the founder of the World Central Kitchen charity, wrote that: "I am heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family. These are people … angels … I served alongside in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, Bahamas, Indonesia. They are not faceless … they are not nameless."

The IDF said in a statement that it is "conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident." An Israeli military source told army radio that the attack was "the worst Israel has seen in the war." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as a tragic incident where Israeli forces unintentionally hit innocent people.

Hamas condemned the drone strikes in a statement and urged the international community to take action: "This crime once again confirms that the occupation continues its policy of deliberate killing of innocent civilians, international relief teams, and humanitarian organizations, in its efforts to terrorize those working in them and prevent them from carrying out their humanitarian duties."

International

Other countries, officials and organizations that denounced the attack includes: the European Commission, Iran, Jordan, the UN’s emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths, Norwegian Refugee Council, Open Arms, who were delivering food with WCK, Scotland, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and World Food Programme Chief Cindy McCain.

• Australia − Prime minister Anthony Albanese commented the Australian citizen's death as "completely unacceptable", and that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had requested an explanation from the Israeli ambassador. DFAT stated that it was seeking from the Israeli government "a thorough and expeditious review".
• Belgium − Foreign minister Hadja Lahbib stated that "Aid workers do essential work and must be protected, just like civilians," also adding that "too many of them are victims of the conflict in Gaza".
• China − Beijing said that it's "shocked" and denounced the Israeli attack, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated that "China opposes all acts that harm civilians, damage civilian facilities, and violate international law,"
• Cyprus − The foreign ministry called for a "swift and conclusive" investigation and said that international and humanitarian law is "absolute," adding that "Humanitarian aid workers must always be respected and protected."
• Egypt − The foreign ministry stated that the killings were “blatant” violations of international law and called for a full investigation into the attack.
• European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell condemned the attack: "I condemn the attack and urge an investigation. Despite all the demands to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, we see new innocent casualties." He continued: “This shows that the [UN Security Council] resolution asking for an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access and a reinforced protection of civilians must be immediately implemented."
• Ireland − Foreign and defense minister Micheál Martin stated that he is "Appalled by the deaths of humanitarian workers in an Israeli strike, killed providing life-saving aid to the people of Gaza."
• Islamic Relief − The humanitarian group condemned the attack and said that it is "outraged by yet another deadly attack on humanitarian workers".
• Spain − President Pedro Sánchez said he was "expecting and demanding an explanation from the Israeli government" for the deaths of the seven. Prior to that in a statement on Twitter he said he was "horrified" by the attacks.
• Poland − President Andrzej Duda expressed his feelings of deep sorrow over the death of the volunteers, and also stated that "this tragedy should never have happened and must be investigated". Foreign minister Radosław Sikorski expressed condolences for the Polish citizen's death, and said that he personally asked for "urgent explanations" from the Israeli ambassador.
• United Kingdom − Foreign Minister David Cameron called on Israel to provide a transparent explanation for the attack, while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he’s "shocked and saddened" by the killing of at least one British volunteer during the attack. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned the Israeli ambassador.
• United States − National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson wrote on X that the US was “heartbroken and deeply troubled” by the attack. "Humanitarian aid workers must be protected as they deliver aid that is desperately needed, and we urge Israel to swiftly investigate what happened."

See also

• Gaza Strip famine
• Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present)
• Humanitarian aid during the Israel–Hamas war
• Killing of health workers in the Israel–Hamas war
• Attacks on health facilities during the Israel–Hamas war
• Attacks on humanitarian workers