Two aid workers were killed in Israeli air strikes in Gaza on Saturday, escalating tensions and raising concerns over the safety of humanitarian operations. The first victim, Ahed Azmi Qdeih, a member of World Central Kitchen, was killed in a vehicle in Khan Younis, Southern Gaza. The Israeli military stated that he was involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel and was under surveillance, though no evidence was provided.
Qdeih's family refuted these allegations, emphasizing his dedication as an engineer committed to charitable work. World Central Kitchen confirmed the air strike, expressing heartbreak over the loss of their colleague. The organization announced a pause in its Gaza operations, citing incomplete information and a need for further details. \"We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza,\" it said in a statement posted on X. \"World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack.\" According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, three charity employees and a total of five people were killed in the strike.
Later, international aid agency Save the Children reported that Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi, a 39-year-old staffer, was killed in another air strike in Khan Younis. It remains unclear if both men died in the same strike. \"There are not strong enough words to express the grief and outrage we feel at the loss of Ahmad in an Israeli air strike. He was a valued member of our team and loved by all who met him,\" Inger Ashing, the Save the Children chief executive, said in the statement.
In a separate incident, an air strike near a crowd receiving flour in Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, including individuals involved in overseeing aid deliveries. The Israeli military maintains that it does not target civilians and accuses Hamas of using civilian areas for military operations, a claim denied by the group. Overall, at least 32 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza overnight and into Saturday, according to local reports.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
