Poland extends condolences to family of Polish worker killed in Israeli attack on food charity staff

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Poland on Tuesday extended condolences to a Polish volunteer who was among the seven aid workers killed in an Israeli airstrike on the World Central Kitchen (WCK) team in Gaza.

"Extend condolences to the family of the Polish volunteer who was providing aid to the Palestinians in Gaza, the Polish Foreign Ministry said on X. “Poland objects to the disregard for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers.”

Earlier Tuesday, the WCK, which feeds communities affected by conflict and disaster, confirmed that its members had been killed in an Israeli attack.

It said that despite coordinating movements with the Israeli army, the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route.

“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore.

The other victims include nationals of Australia, the UK, and Palestine, and a dual citizen of the US and Canada.

Israel has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas, which claimed 1,200 lives.

It has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

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