Colombia expresses solidarity with family of aid workers killed in Gaza

By Muhammed Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - Colombia has expressed solidarity with the families and members of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) whose seven aid workers were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza earlier this week.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry stressed Israel's responsibility to uphold its international commitments in ensuring the protection of non-governmental organizations.

It called for adherence to International Humanitarian Law and called for a thorough and independent investigation into the killing.

The ministry also reiterated the importance of guaranteeing access to humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip, which is suffering a major food crisis.

The non-profit that provides meals to communities in disaster and war zones has called for an independent investigation into the killing of its workers, saying the Israeli action on Monday was "a military attack that involved multiple strikes and targeted three WCK vehicles."

Israel has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas which claimed 1,200 lives.

The relentless bombing and a ground invasion have damaged or destroyed around 62% of all homes in the enclave, while at least 75% of the population has been displaced, according to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to ensure "unhindered provision" of urgent aid to Gaza. It said, “Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine ... but that famine is setting in.”