World Central Kitchen has begun raising funds for the families of the seven victims who died in Israel's attack on Gaza. “Thousands of you have reached out asking how you could help,” WCK posted on his X account, followed by a link where donations can be made. “This fund will go directly to their loved ones.” In its first 16 hours of publication, the account has already raised $74,000 dollars and is approaching its goal of $250,000.
A week after the attack, the chef and founder of the organization, José Andrés, criticized that Israel itself was responsible for carrying out the investigation of the bombing that killed seven of its collaborators and demands that an investigation be carried out. independent examination. “The person responsible cannot be the one who investigates himself,” the chef said in an interview. “This has been happening for too long. There have been six months of attacks against anything that moves.”
In its investigation, Israel claims that the NGO workers were mistaken for armed Hamas militants, even though the group had notified authorities of their movements. As a result, two Israeli forces officers were dismissed.
Of Palestinian origin and barely 25 years old, Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha was the youngest victim of the attack. He had been collaborating with the NGO as a driver and translator since the beginning of the year. His brothers described him as a young man “dedicated and eager to help his fellow Palestinians.” He studied at the University of Ajman, in the United Arab Emirates.
Jacob Flickinger, 33, had dual American and Canadian citizenship. He had traveled to Gaza three weeks before the attack and planned to leave a week later. “He was a good man,” his father said in an interview with the Washington Post. “He did what he liked and he just wanted to serve and help others.”
Australian Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, 43, was a “brave and selfless” woman, as friends remember her. After spending eight years of her life as an executive in a bank, “Zomi” resigned to dedicate herself fully to her work as a volunteer. “Food is not just calories; It’s hope, it’s love, it’s knowing that people care,” she said during a WCK speech in 2023.
Damian Soból, 35, was known as a cheerful and friendly manager among World Central Kitchen volunteers. He began working with the organization in 2022, after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was from Przemysl, Poland. “A truly extraordinary person,” said his partner Marta Wilczynska. “We were very proud of him.”
John Chapman, a 57-year-old Briton, was part of the security team accompanying the NGO, as were his two other British colleagues, James Jim Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47. All three men were military veterans. Adam McGuire, Kirby's cousin, expressed in an interview his disappointment in the response of Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who did not apologize to the people affected. Additionally, he expressed hope that the death of his cousin and the other seven workers was not in vain, and that it could serve as a “turning point” to boost the flow of aid to Gaza.
Since October, the NGO has delivered more than 43 million meals in Gaza. “These are the heroes of World Central Kitchen,” said Erin Gore, CEO of the organization. “Their smiles, laughter and voices are forever etched in our memories.”
