World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced on Monday that it would resume operations in the Gaza Strip, just a month after seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli air strike. The U.S.-based charity had halted its operations temporarily but is now ready to continue its mission of providing meals to those in need.
Prior to the pause in operations, WCK had distributed over 43 million meals in Gaza since October, making up a significant portion of international aid in the region. The charity has 276 trucks loaded with nearly 8 million meals ready to enter Gaza through the Rafah Crossing, with additional trucks coming in from Jordan.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire,” said WCK’s CEO Erin Gore. “We are restarting our operation with the same energy, dignity, and focus on feeding as many people as possible.”
The deaths of the charity workers on April 1 sparked outrage and calls for accountability from Israel’s allies, including the U.S. Israel has acknowledged serious errors and breaches of procedure by its military, leading to the dismissal of two senior officers and reprimands for others.
Despite the risks and challenges, WCK is committed to its mission of providing food aid to those in need during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The charity is demanding an independent investigation into the incident and remains dedicated to helping alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the region.