Israeli Airstrike Kills World Central Kitchen Worker in Gaza Amid Ongoing Violence

The Israeli military killed a charity worker from World Central Kitchen in Gaza. The military claimed the worker was a Hamas militant involved in the October 7 attacks. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that three World Central Kitchen employees died when an Israeli strike hit a civilian vehicle in southern Gaza.

The Israeli military did not provide evidence for its claim. Reuters could not verify the man’s identity or whether he participated in the attacks. World Central Kitchen expressed sorrow over the worker’s death and announced it would pause operations in Gaza. The organization stated it had no prior knowledge of any links between the victim and the October 7 attacks.

Medics reported that five people were killed in the strike, which targeted a vehicle east of Khan Younis. At Nasser Hospital, a woman showed an employee badge with the World Central Kitchen logo, identifying one of the deceased workers. Medical staff found personal belongings, including burnt phones and a watch, at the hospital.

In a separate incident in Khan Younis, at least nine Palestinians died when an airstrike hit a car near a crowd receiving flour. This vehicle was reportedly used by security personnel overseeing aid deliveries in Gaza.

Earlier in April, another Israeli strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy resulted in the deaths of seven workers, most of whom were foreigners. The Israeli military labeled that strike a mistake. The military denies targeting civilians and accuses Hamas of using civilian sites and people as shields.

Overall, at least 32 Palestinians died in Israeli strikes overnight, with seven casualties from a strike on a house in central Gaza City, according to Gaza health officials.

Meanwhile, an Israeli aircraft targeted Hezbollah weapons smuggling sites along the Syria-Lebanon border, challenging a newly established ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel claimed the attacks were necessary due to ceasefire violations, while the ceasefire terms are supposed to lead to a withdrawal of militants and a return of Israeli forces to their side of the border.

Despite these events, there were no immediate reactions from Syrian authorities or Hezbollah. The ceasefire is fragile, and both sides have accused each other of violations. Many of the 1.2 million displaced people in Lebanon have started returning home despite military warnings to avoid certain areas.