The World Central Kitchen (WCK), a renowned charity, has faced a significant setback as it has announced the pausing of its operations in Gaza. This comes after a tragic incident where a vehicle carrying its staff members was hit by an Israeli air strike. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that the target of the strike was a person who had participated in the 7 October attacks on Israel and was currently employed by WCK. However, WCK stated that it was "heartbroken to share" that a vehicle carrying staff had been hit and it was seeking more details, emphasizing that it had "no knowledge" that anyone in the car had ties to the 7 October attacks.

Details of the Tragedy

Palestinian state-run news agency Wafa reported that five people were killed in the strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Saturday, with three of them being WCK employees. They included the director of WCK's kitchens in Gaza. Separately, British aid agency Save the Children also confirmed that one of its staff members was killed on Saturday afternoon in Khan Younis. Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi, 39, was returning home to his wife and three-year-old daughter from a mosque when he lost his life. Save the Children described him as a person with determination to help others, pride in his daughter, and the ability to brighten others' days.It is still unclear whether he was killed in the same strike as the WCK employees. Save the Children mentioned that there were two strikes in Khan Younis on Saturday, but the BBC has not been able to verify this.After the reports of the WCK strike, pictures circulating on social media showed a white saloon car by the side of a road, partially burned-out and with its roof caved in. Video filmed inside a mortuary also revealed a number of charred possessions - including a laptop, clothing, and an ID badge - bearing the WCK logo.In a statement, the IDF said it had "struck a vehicle [carrying] a terrorist that took part in the murderous 7 October massacre". It added that the man had participated in an attack on the kibbutz of Nir Oz and was being monitored by IDF intelligence before being struck based on credible information regarding his real-time location. The IDF also stated that the strike was on a "civilian unmarked vehicle" whose movement had "not been coordinated for transporting aid". It demanded "clarifications and an urgent investigation" from WCK and the international community "regarding the hiring of workers who took part in... terrorist activity against Israel".The statement from WCK said it was "heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza". It emphasized that at this time, it was working with incomplete information and was urgently seeking more details. "World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack". It added that it would be pausing its work in Gaza. "Our hearts are with our colleagues and their families in this unimaginable moment," it said.In April, seven WCK workers, including three British security staff, were killed in an Israeli strike on an aid convoy, which prompted widespread condemnation and a temporary halt to the charity's operations. The IDF later admitted "grave mistakes" had been made and sacked two senior officers.