American nongovernmental organization World Central Kitchen, which provides food for people in disaster zones around the world, fired 62 of its Palestinian employees in Gaza in response to evidence uncovered by Israeli authorities that proves the fired employees had ties to the Hamas terrorist organization. Some are believed to have taken part in the October 7 Hamas massacre during which 1,200 people were murdered, including entire families.
Reuters cited one Israeli security official as saying that Israel had demanded that World Central Kitchen conduct an investigation into its staffers who took part in the October 7 massacre after it said a WCK employee identified as Ahed Azmi Qdeih took part in the attack.
“This should not be taken as a conclusion by WCK that the individuals are affiliated with any terror organization,” said the World Central Kitchen about the terminations. “Prior to receiving the results of the COGAT (Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) security check, we had no reason for concern regarding any of these individuals and, because Israel does not share intelligence with aid organizations, we do not know the basis for Israel’s decision to flag these individuals. However, we felt this step was necessary to protect our team and operations.”
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“We believe we had two options- to close operations in Gaza or adjust to their request,” added World Central Kitchen. “This decision protects Palestinian children and families that come to eat at our sites. Balancing safety with our mission to serve is a responsibility we take very seriously. Despite these challenges, we remain focused on our mission. We praise our team in Gaza for feeding everyday, making the impossible possible.”
This is not the first time that it has been found that a relief organization operating in Gaza has been used by Hamas as cover for its terrorist activities and to even have employed terrorists.
UNRWA – the UN Relief Works Agency that provides aid to Gaza – was found to have had a number of Hamas terrorists in its employ.