United Kingdom has reiterated its call for accountability following the World Central Kitchen (WCK) strike in Gaza.
On 1 April 2024, a convoy operated by World Central Kitchen (WCK) was struck by Israeli drone fire in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of seven aid workers. The convoy, consisting of three vehicles, had been transporting food supplies from a temporary coastal delivery point to a warehouse in northern Gaza, where humanitarian conditions have sharply deteriorated during the ongoing conflict.
The strike took place days after the International Court of Justice called on Israel to facilitate the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Although the convoy’s route had been coordinated in advance, the Israeli military later acknowledged responsibility for the attack.
This provoked widespread international condemnation and led humanitarian organizations, including WCK, to suspend operations in Gaza due to security concerns and calls for accountability and justice.
In a statement commemorating the second anniversary of the attack, Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, highlighted that “for two years, the families of Armed Forces veterans John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby have sought answers.”
“The UK government has pressed Israel at the highest level for answers. Israel has a responsibility to provide these. I’ve heard first-hand the pain their families have endured. So today, I repeat the UK’s call for transparency and accountability for this appalling attack – we will continue to push for justice. No aid worker should be killed doing their job providing lifesaving care to civilians living in the most dire straits.”
Hamish Falconer
He also paid tribute to the dedication of the World Central Kitchen staff, it is vital that we do everything we can to ensure humanitarian staff can carry out their work without fear, adding, “more than 500 aid workers have lost their lives in Gaza since October 2023. Before the ceasefire, it was the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid worker.”
The Minister further urged Israel to swiftly conclude and publish their findings into this attack. “The families of those killed must know why this happened. Lessons must be learnt. A tragedy like this must never happen again,” he stated.
Honouring WCK’s Heroes Killed in Gaza
World Central Kitchen paused to honour seven members of its extended family who lost their lives in Gaza. The organisation described them as more than colleagues, noting that “they were humanitarians, teammates, and friends who believed deeply in the power of a meal to bring comfort, dignity, and hope in the hardest moments.”
WCK Founder José Andrés said, “ they were the best of humanity, feeding people they didn’t know.”
“There was and never will be any excuse for the attacks on their convoy. We demand truth and justice for them, and for all the humanitarian workers who have been killed in Gaza. We mourn the loss of all lives in this war. Civilians must never be a target of any war.”
World Central Kitchen
The WCK family further stated that even in the face of this loss, their legacy shapes everything we do. “It lives on in the meals our teams serve each day in Gaza and in communities around the world facing crisis. It lives on in the care our teams bring to every kitchen, every delivery, every interaction. And it lives on in the way we show up for one another, with compassion and a shared sense of purpose.”
Moreover, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, indicated the position of the Albanese Government regarding the need for accountability and transparency in the investigation into the deaths of Zomi Frankcom, an Australian citizen and her six colleagues from World Central Kitchen.
“We continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges. Humanitarian workers in Gaza, Lebanon and other conflict zones globally continue to face unacceptable risks in their delivery of critical assistance to civilians. The death of any aid worker anywhere is unacceptable.”
Penny Wong
She further indicated that Australia launched the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, along with eight other countries, at the United Nations in September last year. The Declaration is now a shared commitment by more than 110 countries more than half the United Nations for stronger accountability, safer access, and better protection for aid workers everywhere.
In honour of Australian aid worker, Zomi Frankcom, who was killed in an Israeli strike while delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza, the Minister stated that “honouring Zomi’s legacy means turning commitment into action.”
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