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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently conducted a strike against what it claimed were armed individuals posing as aid workers from an international organization providing food relief.
This incident comes amid global outrage over the killing of civilian workers in Gaza, with Israel alleging that some victims were affiliated with Hamas and other armed factions. The IDF has been criticized for its recent killings, including that of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, whom they claimed was a member of Hamas.
According to an Israeli military official, the attack targeted individuals believed to be armed men near an IDF post in Gaza who had parked a vehicle bearing World Central Kitchen insignia. The IDF initially contacted the organization for verification but observed no connection between the individuals and the group. After confirming the people were not associated with World Central Kitchen, the IDF waited for them to leave the vehicle before eliminating the armed men.
The IDF stated that five armed terrorists were eliminated near a “World Central Kitchen”-marked vehicle despite having no affiliation with the organization and posing a threat to Israeli troops. The IDF accused the individuals of deliberately using the emblem and wearing yellow vests to conceal their activities and avoid being targeted, exploiting humanitarian status.
World Central Kitchen, founded by chef José Andrés in 2010, provides food relief in crisis zones worldwide. A spokesperson confirmed that Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) had contacted them prior to the strike and that the individuals were not members of World Central Kitchen.
The IDF provided documents purportedly showing the alleged affiliation of Anas Al-Sharif with Hamas, but international organizations such as the United Nations and the Committee to Protect Journalists have condemned the strike. Israel has previously acknowledged fault in targeting aid workers; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an earlier incident “a tragic event” involving non-combatant harm.
Hamas is also accused of targeting humanitarian personnel. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reported credible claims that Hamas was placing bounties on their staff and U.S. security personnel protecting them.
