Memorial to honor World Central Kitchen workers killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes

A memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington will honor the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers who were tragically killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza earlier this month. The service, scheduled for Thursday, will feature speeches from celebrity chef and philanthropist José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, and a performance by renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Among the senior administration figures expected to attend are Douglas Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, and U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. The aid workers, including individuals from various countries, were killed on April 1 when Israeli armed drones attacked their convoy as they were leaving a warehouse on a food delivery mission.

Israel has acknowledged that the military officials involved in the strike made a grave error based on faulty intelligence, leading to the tragic loss of innocent lives. The incident has sparked international outrage and calls for a change in military operations to prevent further harm to aid workers and civilians in Gaza.

World Central Kitchen and other humanitarian organizations have temporarily suspended their operations in Gaza following the attack. The memorial service at the National Cathedral will bring together religious leaders from different faiths to pay tribute to the fallen workers, whose funerals have already taken place in their respective home countries.

The tragic deaths of these dedicated aid workers serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.