World Central Kitchen says Israeli strike killed Gaza volunteer

The World Central Kitchen (WCK) said that an Israeli military strike killed one of the charity group’s volunteers working in the Gaza Strip and injured six other people. 

“Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the loss of one of our volunteers in Gaza. Israeli strikes hit near one of our WCK-supported community kitchens just as meals were being distributed. Jalal was tragically killed and six other people were injured,” WCK said in a news release Thursday. 

“We will continue to support community kitchens throughout the region and operate our field kitchens where possible, based on daily assessments,” wrote the nonprofit organization, founded by celebrity chef José Andrés. “We hope for peace for all and a lasting ceasefire.” 

The Hill has reached out to the Israeli military for comment. 

Andrés reposted the message, adding, "The people of Gaza must have a future free of Israeli attacks against civilians, humanitarians, children……just as the people of Israel deserve to live without fear of terror and attacks by Hamas…. Enough…Let’s build peace….lets free the hostages ,let’s restart a ceasefire and let free flow of the humanitarian aid again… and start hoping of a better tomorrow."

Israel has been striking the war-torn enclave since last week after ending the roughly two-month ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israel threatened to intensify its offensive against Hamas, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S., if the militant group did not free the remaining hostages and depart Gaza. 

Hamas ignited the conflict in the Middle East after its Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 Israelis and taking roughly 250 hostages. Israel’s offensive since then has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The tally does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. 

This week’s strike came less than a year after an Israeli strike killed seven of WCK’s volunteers on April 1, 2024.

The nonprofit organization halted its operations in the enclave after the April 1 strike. Later that month, World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore said the charity group would resume operations to “continue to get as much food into Gaza, including northern Gaza, as possible.”

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. We are restarting our operation with the same energy, dignity, and focus on feeding as many people as possible,” Gore said at the time. 

The Israeli military said Thursday that it killed Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua. 

“He spent years advancing the terrorist organization’s agenda, which calls for the destruction of the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a Thursday post on social platform X. “The [Israel Defense Forces] and ISA [Israel Security Agency] will continue to operate to dismantle Hamas’ governmental and military capabilities.”