The World Central Kitchen (WCK)—an American nonprofit group founded by celebrity chef José Andrés to feed people in need during global conflicts and disasters—said they were “devastated” to confirm that seven members of their team were killed by an Israeli airstrike while traveling in two armored cars in a deconflicted zone in Gaza on Tuesday, April 2.
“Despite coordinating movements with the IDF, 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,” the WCK , adding that they were immediately pausing their operations in Gaza and the region.
Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War in October, at least 196 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, to the U.S.-funded Aid Worker Security Database. Most of those killed worked for UNRWA, the U.N.-run aid agency for Palestinian refugees. Aid groups have repeatedly called for a humanitarian ceasefire in response.
WCK stationed aid workers in Gaza when the war first began. Last month, the group it had served more than 35 million meals to Gazans in need, and opened more than 60 community kitchens across the besieged territory. Its CEO, Erin Gore, described the latest attack as “unforgivable.”
“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,” Gore said in a .
Today lost several of our sisters and brothers in an IDF air strike in Gaza. I am heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family. These are people…angels…I served alongside in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, Bahamas, Indonesia. They… — Chef José Andrés 🕊️🥘🍳 (@chefjoseandres)
The bodies of the aid workers were taken to al-Aqsa Hospital in the southern city of Rafah on the Egyptian border. Hospital records further reveal that among the seven killed were three British citizens, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, a Palestinian, an Australian, and a Polish citizen, according to the statement. While the identities of all the victims are yet to be revealed, three individuals have been publicly named so far: Zomi Frankcom from Australia; Damian Soból from Poland, and Saif Issam Abu Taha from the occupied Palestinian territory.
The U.S. and Canada have not yet issued an official statement in response to the death of the dual American-Canadian citizen. In the U.K., Prime Minister Rishi Sunak he was “shocked and saddened” by the incident, while Foreign Secretary David Cameron demanded a full investigation. “It is essential that humanitarian workers are protected and able to carry out their work,” Cameron on X.
Below, what we know so far about the WCK aid workers killed by Israeli airstrikes:
Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom
Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, 43, was one of WCK’s earliest employees after she first volunteered at a kitchen in Guatemala following the Fuego volcano eruption in June 2018, according to a on X from Nate Mook, the organization’s former CEO.
Frankcom was born in Melbourne, Australia, and grew up in Southern Sydney. After graduating with a degree in psychology, she worked at the Commonwealth Bank for more than eight years, according to . She then worked as a senior manager at WCK for five years, where she coordinated efforts to feed thousands of Australian firefighters and emergency services personnel during the deadly Black Summer bushfires on the southern coast of NSW in January 2020.
Her work with WCK took her around the world, including to Bangladesh, Morocco, Haiti, Pakistan, Turkey, and the border of Ukraine. “Food is not just calories,” she in a speech last year to a group of donors. “It’s hope, it’s love, it’s knowing people care.”
On March 14, Frankcom was seen boarding a Royal Jordanian Air Force cargo plane in a shared by WCK’s Instagram page. In late March, she appeared in filmed at Deir al-Balah talking about the meals being prepared for Palestinians.
“We are deeply mourning the news that our brave and beloved Zomi has been killed doing the work she loves, delivering food to the people of Gaza,” her family said in a . “She will leave behind a legacy of compassion, bravery, and love for all those in her orbit.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Tuesday that Frankcom’s death was “completely unacceptable,” adding that the Australian government was seeking “full accountability” for the incident. “This is a tragedy that should never have occurred,” he said, adding his government has summoned the Israeli ambassador to Australia.
Since then, Australians and others around the world have posted thousands of tributes to Frankcom on social media. “Zomi risked her life many times to help those in dire need…Rest in peace our beautiful sister,” Karuna Bajracharya, whose wife was childhood friends with Frankcom, on Facebook. “Zomi was effervescent, her spirit of service embodied the greatest aspects of humanity,” Mook.
Damian Soból
Damian Soból, 35, hailed from the border city of Przemysl in south-eastern Poland. A by his local sports club describes Soból as a “student, teammate, industrialist, volunteer, and member of the World Central Kitchen team.”
He volunteered with WCK at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where he helped feed refugees, as well as in response to the earthquakes in Turkey, according to .
Following his death, he was originally identified by Wojciech Bakun, the city’s mayor, in a . “There are no words to describe what people who knew this fantastic guy feel at this moment… May he rest in peace,” Bakun posted.
His death was later confirmed by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. “Our brave compatriot, Mr Damian Soból from Przemysl, helped people in need in Gaza where there is a humanitarian crisis. He was killed during an attack which the Israeli army has accepted responsibility for,” Sikorski said in a on X. He has also asked the Israeli ambassador for an “urgent explanation.”
Składam najszczersze kondolencje rodzinie naszego rodaka, Pana Damiana. Za atak odpowiedzialność przyjęła armia izraelska. Rozmawiałem już z ambasadorem 🇮🇱, za chwilę będę rozmawiał telefonicznie z MSZ 🇮🇱 Israelem Katzem.
