In a tragic escalation of violence, two aid workers were killed in Israeli air strikes in Gaza on Saturday. The strikes targeted areas in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, amid ongoing tensions following the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
One of the victims was identified as Ahed Azmi Qdeih, an engineer and staff member of the U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen. Qdeih was reportedly hit in his vehicle during the air strike. The Israeli military claimed that he had participated in the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel earlier this month and had been under surveillance, though no evidence was provided to support these allegations.
Qdeih’s family vehemently denied the Israeli claims, stating that he was dedicated to charitable work and had no involvement with militant activities. “The Israeli allegations are false and meant to justify his unlawful killing,” a family member asserted.
World Central Kitchen expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their colleague. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the organization said, “We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza. World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack.” The charity announced it is pausing operations in Gaza pending further information.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that three employees of World Central Kitchen were killed in the strike, with medics indicating a total of five fatalities. Hamas has not issued a statement regarding the incident.
Later on Saturday, international aid agency Save the Children reported the death of another staff member, identified as 39-year-old Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi, in an air strike in Khan Younis. Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children, expressed profound grief: “There are not strong enough words to express the grief and outrage we feel at the loss of Ahmad in an Israeli air strike. He was a valued member of our team and loved by all who met him.”
It remains unclear whether Qdeih and Al-Qadi were killed in the same air strike. The Israeli military has not commented on Save the Children’s statement.
In a separate incident in Khan Younis, medics reported that at least nine Palestinians were killed when an Israeli air strike hit a vehicle near a crowd receiving flour. The vehicle was reportedly used by security personnel overseeing aid deliveries into Gaza.
The Israeli military maintains that it does not target civilians and accuses Hamas of operating from civilian facilities and using Gaza’s population as human shields, allegations that Hamas denies.
Gaza medics reported that at least 32 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across the enclave overnight and into Saturday. Among the casualties were seven individuals killed in a strike on a house in central Gaza City, according to Gaza officials.
The latest incidents have heightened concerns over the safety of civilians and aid workers in Gaza as the conflict continues to intensify.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
