(VOVWORLD) - Citizens from Australia, Britain and Poland were among seven people working for the food aid nonprofit World Central Kitchen who were killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza on Monday, the NGO said.
 World Central Kitchen has provided more than 41 million meals to Palestinians in need. (Photo: Reuters) |
The workers, who also included Palestinians and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, were travelling in two armoured cars emblazoned with the WCK logo and another vehicle, WCK said in a statement.
Despite co-ordinating movements with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), the convoy was hit as it was leaving its Deir al-Balah warehouse, after unloading more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza by sea, WCK said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government expects full accountability for the deaths of aid workers, which is completely unacceptable.
"We certainly have already contacted the Israeli government directly, contacted the Israeli ambassador to ask for accountability here. The truth is that this is beyond any reasonable circumstances," Albanese added.
World Central Kitchen said Tuesday that it was immediately halting its operations in Gaza. It has provided more than 41 million meals to Palestinians in need.
The IDF said it is conducting a thorough investigation at the highest levels into the deaths of seven aid workers.