According to Liz – For some reason, if the numbers are just spewed out by a perfectly coiffed newscaster or published a few inches below the page, then the deaths caused by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) with American aid. And injuries are no bigger numbers.
Six months after the devastating attack on three military bases and three Israeli settlements near the Gaza border at the dawn of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, 78 413 people, including children, were killed and 253 people were kidnapped.
It was a truly frightening event.
But in the ultimate case of overreach, the number of Palestinians killed in Prime Minister Netanyahu's overreaching retaliation now exceeds 30,000, more than twice that many injured, and most of the territory's 2.3 million residents homeless. being chased.
It goes without saying that at least 196 humanitarian workers have been lost in the Gaza Strip since Israel began its offensive. These include seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers who were killed in an Israeli airstrike in late March.
The WCK founder told the ABC: And they are putting themselves at risk to bring hope to others. ”
San Francisco-based chef Laura Pauli is inspired by WCK's mission to feed those in need and to “run into the fire, not run away from it, to help others.” He sent a message of encouragement to humanitarian aid workers around the world. Who needs it most? ”
What interests us is not numbers, but human stories. In other words, it's a heartfelt, personal, and deep expression from those left behind about those who risked their lives to help others.
The reminiscences of friends and family about the seven souls who were delivering food to starving Palestinians in Gaza shine through their humanity and simple heroism, outshining all the politicians and self-serving rhetoric. Appreciate them.
Australian Lalzaumi “Zomi” Francom was the manager and relief lead of World Central Kitchen. Away from her career in banking and finance, her strong sense of social justice spread throughout the world. She visited Guatemala in 2018, and when Volcano Fuego erupted, killing hundreds and displacing thousands, Zomi volunteered with WCK to help feed survivors. .
That led to helping those affected by Hurricane Michael in the United States, and then to helping refugees from forest fires back home. When the Navajo Reservation in Arizona was reeling from one of the highest coronavirus death rates in the world, she organized a locally-led team to deliver food to completely estranged families.
Former colleague Nate Mook said of Zomi's relationship with a survivor: She just wrapped her love around the people she was helping. Everyone adored her. ”
Zomi organized the delivery of hundreds of thousands of meals to hospitals in India during the coronavirus delta surge and coordinated meals for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion in Poland and Romania.
Teresa Gray of Mobile Medics International praised her friend's contributions to others. She goes where her help is needed, she makes sure the vulnerable get food, she makes sure people feel loved and valued, and she makes sure she's a great resource for the desperate. I told them that it was a light of hope. ”
Pauli had this to say about Damian Sobol, a Polish man with whom he worked in Ukraine after the Russian invasion. It's a protector. A person determined to do good. ”
Wojciech Bakun, the mayor of Sobol's hometown of Przemysl in southeastern Poland, posted on social media: “There are no words to describe the feelings of everyone who now knew this wonderful young man… May he rest in peace.”
Jacob Flickinger, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, has 11 years of experience in the Canadian Armed Forces and previously served with WCK in Mexico. He went to Gaza in March because he wanted to help others. His Quebec mother called him “a very good human being…very dedicated to his work and family.” The American father described his son's work as combining “a love of adventure and a desire to serve and help others.”
Jacob and his partner Sandy Leclerc had recently moved to Costa Rica with their 18-month-old son.
James Kirby is a British national who worked for Solace Global, a security company based in the UK. Their mission was to protect people and assets around the world. Kirby, who served in the military in Bosnia and Afghanistan, used his experience in conflict zones to protect WCK personnel providing humanitarian aid in Gaza.
His family said he “will be remembered as a hero” who was “always willing to help anyone, even in the face of senseless violence.” A cousin told the BBC that Kirby was “completely selfless” and “just wanted to help people”, which is why he went to Gaza. ”
James Henderson, also from Solace Global, served in the Royal Marines in the United Kingdom before moving into civilian work. A close friend of his told the widely read Daily Mail newspaper: He wasn't there long, just a few weeks. ”
His brother did not believe that the British government would hold the guilty to account and told the British government that it would “continue to sell arms to Israel, which in turn could be used to kill our own people.” expressed his anger. It's difficult to understand that. ”
The third member of WCK's Solace Global-provided security team was Royal Navy SEAL veteran John Chapman. He was praised by his family, who said he “tried to help people…he was loved by many and will forever be a hero.” I will miss him very much when he is gone. ”
Friends described him as a “brilliant man” and said his death was “a great loss to his family, friends and the veteran community.”
Chapman and his comrades were as much victims of the genocide in Gaza as the people WCK was trying to save.
Their only Palestinian worker, Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, had been working for WCK as a driver and translator since the beginning of this year. One of his brothers described him as a “dedicated young man” and a cousin said he was keen to “do good” and help his fellow Palestinians.
Another brother said he was excited for Abu Taha to unload much-needed food. It was “like attending a wedding.” Last Tuesday, his family and friends had to bury him in his hometown of Rafah in southern Gaza.
The bodies of other foreign aid workers who died were first taken to Rafah and then to Egypt on their way to their home country.
CEO Erin Gore posted on WCK's website:
“These seven beautiful souls lost their lives in an Israeli Defense Forces attack while returning from a full day's mission. Their smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in our memories. And we have countless memories of them giving their best selves to the world. We are reeling from a sense of loss. A loss for the world.”
The aid workers were traveling in two armored vehicles and one non-reinforced vehicle on a road designated by Israel as a safe humanitarian route when they were targeted by a military attack accompanied by multiple drone strikes. All three vehicles had WCK logos, and the Israeli military knew they were carrying civilians.
Despite being in constant contact with the IDF, the convoy was shocked just as it left a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, where it had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian aid shipped to Gaza. According to information released by Flickinger's parents, the vehicle was not only attacked by Israeli-operated drones, but also “continued firing until all the workers were killed.”
Whether they are “outraged” (President Biden) or “appalled” (British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak), the policies of the countries supporting Prime Minister Netanyahu's genocidal regime will not change.
Whether intentional or not, these killings of innocent people who selflessly volunteered to help those caught up in horrific violence and oppressive situations violate international law caused by Prime Minister Netanyahu's choices. is part of a humanitarian disaster that violates the law.
Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Helj Halevi said, “It was a mistake that…should not have happened,” and Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagali said, “It should not have happened,” but it did happen. Ta. Is there some kind of echo chamber around Prime Minister Netanyahu's talking points?
And no, that shouldn't have happened.
Disciplining or firing a few officers is not the answer. We can stop this bloody war.
Immediately withdrawing the Israeli Defense Forces from both Gaza and the West Bank, replacing them with United Nations peacekeepers, and moving these devastated areas to a point where effective negotiations for the future of the Palestinian people can begin It will be the start of paying homage to the dead and all the people of WCK. Those who went before them.
After-the-fact excuses and strangleholds will not be able to breathe life back into the lives of the seven WCK employees and tens of thousands of Palestinians who had nothing to do with the October 7 Hamas attack. Ironically, WCK was praised at the time for its support of injured and displaced Israelis.
Celebrity chef José Andrés founded WCK after helping feed displaced families in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, learning the importance of human interaction.
“It wasn't just about feeding those in need, it was about listening, learning and cooking with those affected by the crisis. This is the true meaning of comfort food, and Jose These are the core values that he and his wife, Patricia, used at the heart of founding World Central Kitchen.”
Media coverage of Netanyahu's attacks needs to focus less on the numbers and more on the people behind them. To stop the killing of heroes, the world must stop the genocide.
Last Wednesday, Andres posted on social media: “Dear Zomi, there are no words…but I promise you, your spirit will always be with us.”
If you would like to donate to WCK.
(Liz Amsden is a CityWatch contributor and activist from Northeast Los Angeles who has opinions on much of what goes on in our lives. She is a contributor to CityWatch and an activist from Northeast Los Angeles who has opinions on much of what goes on in our lives. , but also writes extensively about many other interests and passions.She makes a living on film and television budgets, and fiction is rarely as strange as the truth of living in today's world. )
