World Central Kitchen identifies seven killed in humanitarian aid effort in Gaza

The World Central Kitchen has identified the seven members killed Monday in an Israeli air strike while delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The members of the WCK relief team who died have been identified by the nonprofit as Lalzawmi Frankcom, 43, of Australia; Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25, a Palestinian; Damian Soból, 35, from Poland; and Jacob Flickinger, 33, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen.

Frankcom served as leader in the humanitarian relief effort, amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza that began in October 2023, according to The Washington Post. 

The nonprofit is led by celebrity chef José Andrés.

Also killed were three British members of an accompanying security team: John Chapman, 57; James Henderson, 33; and James Kirby, 47, the newspaper also reports. 

WCK said the unit was traveling in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza in vehicles that included two armored cars branded with the World Central Kitchen logo. The aid group said it had coordinated its movement with the Israeli military.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces “unintentionally hit innocent people” and that Israel would fully investigate the “tragic incident.”