“Such a thing is unforgivable.” The Israeli army killed 7 civilians working for the NGO World Central Kitchen, including four foreigners

Nationals from Australia, Britain and Poland are among seven people who worked for celebrity chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen killed in an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip on Monday, the NGO said, according to Reuters.

The workers, who included Palestinians and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, were traveling in two armored cars bearing the WCK logo and another vehicle, WCK said in a statement.

Despite coordinating movements with the Israel Defense Forces, the convoy was hit as it left its depot in Deir al-Balah after unloading more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza by sea, WCK said.

“This is not only an attack on WCK, but also an attack on humanitarian organizations that show up in the most dire situations where food is used as a weapon of war,” said Erin Gore, executive director of World Central Kitchen.

“This is unforgivable.”

The Israeli military said it was conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of what it called a tragic incident.

“The Israel Defense Forces are making extensive efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and have worked closely with the WCK in their vital efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the military said.

Andres, who founded WCK in 2010, sending cooks and food to Haiti after an earthquake, previously said he was heartbroken and grieving for the families and friends of those who died.

“The Israeli government must stop this indiscriminate killing,” he said on social media.

“They must stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon. No more innocent lives must be lost. Peace begins with our common humanity. It must start now.”

In a statement, the Islamist group Hamas said the attack was aimed at terrorizing international aid agency workers, dissuading them from their missions.

AUSTRALIA CONFIRMS DEATH

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the death of aid worker Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, 44, and said his government had contacted Israel to demand that those responsible be held accountable.

“This is a human tragedy that should never have happened, it is completely unacceptable and Australia will seek full and appropriate accountability,” he told a news conference on Tuesday.

Albanese said innocent civilians and aid workers must be protected and reiterated his call for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, along with more aid to help those suffering “enormous deprivations”.

A video obtained by Reuters showed paramedics moving the bodies to a hospital and displaying the passports of three of those killed.

“We are heartbroken and deeply troubled by the strike that killed @WCKitchen aid workers in Gaza,” US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said on social media.

“Aid workers must be protected as they deliver desperately needed aid, and we urge Israel to quickly investigate what happened.”

WCK said it was immediately suspending its operations in the region and would soon make decisions about the future of its business.

WCK delivers food aid and prepares meals for people in need. Last month, WCK said it served more than 42 million meals in Gaza in 175 days.

WCK was involved in the first aid shipment to Gaza via a maritime corridor from Cyprus in March. A second WCK aid shipment of 332 tons arrived in Gaza earlier this week.

Since beginning operations in 2010, the organization has delivered food to communities affected by natural disasters, to refugees at the US border, to medical personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to people in the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.