In a tragic turn of events, Spanish NGO Open Arms and U.S. charity World Central Kitchen have announced the suspension of their efforts to deliver aid to Gaza via sea after seven WCK workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The two organizations had been working together to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza from Cyprus since March, but their mission was abruptly halted on April 1 when the convoy of WCK workers was attacked.
“This attack, perpetrated by the Israeli Defence Forces, marks a painful turning point in our efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” Open Arms stated in a written statement. WCK has also decided to pause its operations in Gaza, where it had been running more than 60 community kitchens since October.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with the U.N. warning that famine is imminent for over half of the population. Despite this, the offloading of 240 metric tons of food was halted following the killings of the WCK workers. The Open Arms salvage ship has since returned to Cyprus with the remaining cargo.
Open Arms director Oscar Camps described Gaza as a “dystopian laboratory” where war technologies are tested and perfected, with little regard for human life. He criticized the international community for offering condolences to the victims’ families without taking action to stop the flow of weapons into the region.
As the world mourns the loss of these aid workers, questions remain about the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the toll it is taking on innocent lives.