Israeli shelling kills World Central Kitchen employees in Gaza

World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit organization that delivers food to the Gaza Strip, said several of its employees were killed in Israeli shelling.

The enclave's health ministry claims that among the dead were citizens of Great Britain, Australia and Poland. The citizenship of the fourth has not been established, AFP reports, citing the Ministry of Health.

“Today WCK lost several of its sisters and brothers to the Israeli army strike in Gaza,” said NGO founder José Andrés.

The Gaza Ministry of Health clarified that after the Israeli shelling, the bodies of four foreign employees of the World Central Kitchen and their Palestinian driver were taken to a hospital in Deir el-Balah. An AFP correspondent reported seeing five bodies in the hospital, with three foreign passports lying next to them.

WCK is taking part in the delivery of humanitarian supplies by sea from Cyprus, and is also helping to build a temporary pier in Gaza, AFP reports.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the agency that it is conducting a thorough investigation at the highest level to understand the circumstances of this tragedy. The IDF added that it is working closely with WCK in an attempt to assist the Palestinians.