Memorial to honor World Central Kitchen workers killed in Israeli strikes

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

Among the attendees at the memorial will be Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, and U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. The aid workers, who were on a food delivery mission when they were killed, hailed from various countries including Palestine, the UK, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Poland.

Israel has acknowledged that the military officials responsible for the strike acted in error, based on faulty intelligence. The incident has sparked international outrage and calls for changes in military operations to protect aid workers and civilians in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding.

World Central Kitchen and other aid agencies have temporarily suspended 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. The global community continues to mourn the loss of these dedicated individuals and calls for justice and accountability in the wake of this tragedy.