Canada condemns airstrike that killed seven aid workers
A Canadian-American dual citizen was among those World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers who were killed by Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza on Monday.
Jacob Flickinger, 33, was travelling with the WCK team in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo and a soft skin vehicle, the group explained.
Despite coordinating movements with the Israel Defense Force (IDF), the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route.
Also among those who were killed are three British citizens, Polish and Australia nationals and a Palestinian, according to a report from CTV News.
“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 Erin Gore, World Central Kitchen CEO.
“I am heartbroken and appalled that we – World Central Kitchen and the world – lost beautiful lives today because of a targeted attack by the IDF. The love they had for feeding people, the determination they embodied to show that humanity rises above all, and the impact they made in countless lives will forever be remembered and cherished.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier acknowledged the "unintended strike... on innocent people," according to the CTV News report. He said officials would work to ensure it does not happen again.
Canada condemns Israeli strike on Gaza
On Tuesday, the Canadian government condemned Israel’s airstrike that killed the seven WCK workers, reported Reuters.
"I am horrified to hear reports of the IDF strike taking the lives of seven World Central Kitchen employees in Gaza yesterday, including a Canadian citizen," Melanie Joly, Canadian foreign minister, said in French on Tuesday via social media platform X.
"We condemn these strikes and call for a full investigation. Canada expects full accountability for these killings and we will convey this to the Israeli government directly. Strikes on humanitarian personnel are absolutely unacceptable.”
WCK is providing aid to people in Gaza, Israel and Lebanon, it said. In Gaza, the group has provided more than 43 million meals to Palestinians, according to a PBS report.
WCK has set up one kitchen in the southern city of Rafah and one in the central town of Deir al-Balah. It lends support to 68 community kitchens throughout the territory, serving more than 170,000 hot meals a day, according to the report.
Meanwhile, ships containing about 240 tons of aid from WCK turned back from Gaza just a day after arriving, CTV News reported.
Other humanitarian aid organizations also suspended operations in Gaza, saying it was too dangerous to offer help, according to the report.
