An Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday reverberated around the world, with the charity World Central Kitchen's friends mourning the deaths of those delivering food to besieged Palestinians. His family and friends mourned.
Those killed included three British nationals, an Australian, a Pole, a dual American and Canadian citizen, and a Palestinian. Some traveled around the world, participating in relief efforts in the aftermath of wars, earthquakes, and wildfires.
“These seven beautiful souls are the heroes of the World Central Kitchen,” WCK CEO Erin Gore said in a statement posted on the charity's website. , killed in an Israeli Defense Force attack while returning from a full day's mission. Their smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in our memories. And we know they are the best in the world. We have countless memories of giving of ourselves. We are reeling from the loss. It's a loss for the world.”
We will introduce information on the identified people.
Jacob Flickinger, USA-Canada
Jacob Flickinger, 33, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, was working with the World Central Kitchen relief team.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, in a post on He said they should be held accountable.
Saif Issam Abu Taha, Palestinian
Saif Issam Abu Taha, 27, had been working as a driver and translator at World Central Kitchen since the beginning of this year, relatives said.
His brothers described him as a dedicated young man eager to help his fellow Palestinians.
He was also a successful businessman who traded with countries including Ukraine, Egypt and China, according to his brother Abdul Razak Abu Taha. His brother said his work made him well known on the Israeli side, which helped coordinate and approve the World Central Kitchen team to help unload the ship. , he added.
Saif wanted to get married. “My mother was looking for his wife,” Abdul Razak Abu Taha said. “He would have gotten married if there had been no war.''
Saif and other workers were excited to unload much-needed food aid in Gaza. When Saif and his brother last spoke, Saif said he was on his way home after finishing his work.
Abdul Razak Abu Taha said he tried to call Saif to check on his safety after hearing about the airstrike.
After many attempts, a stranger came out and said, “We found this phone about 200 meters from the car. Everyone inside was killed.”
Lalzaumi “Zomi” Francome, Australia
Friends and family remembered Lalzaumi “Zomi” Francome, 43, as a brave and selfless woman whose concern for others drew her to the world. For the past five years, she has worked at the Washington-based World Central Kitchen, which has taken her to the United States, Thailand, and her native Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: “This is a wonderful Australian who has a proven track record of helping his fellow countrymen, whether internationally or through the support he gave during the Black Summer bushfires. I mourn,” he said. “She was clearly someone who cared about her fellow countrymen.”
Relatives said in a statement that Francome was an “excellent human being” who was “killed while on the job delivering food to the people of Gaza he loved.”
She was born in Melbourne and completed her undergraduate degree at Swinburne University of Technology. For her eight years she worked at Australia's largest bank, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Francome's social media highlighted visits to help people in need in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Romania and Haiti.
World Central Kitchen colleague Dora Weekly, who met with Francom in the Bahamas in 2019 as he responded to Hurricane Dorian, described him as “larger than life.”
She recalled the time Francome was invited to walk the red carpet in Hollywood for an Emmy-nominated documentary about World Central Kitchen.
“I remember taking a picture of her in the dress and saying, 'Keep this forever,'” Weakley told ABC. She could be anywhere and she never did her hair or put on makeup.
“She worked many hours, gave her all, and believed in helping those less fortunate.”
A ship carrying aid organized by chef José Andrés' charity set sail from Cyprus for Gaza on Tuesday.
Damian Sobol, Poland
Damien Sobol, 36, is known as a cheerful, friendly and resourceful manager who quickly rose through the ranks at World Central Kitchen.
Sobol, who is from Przemysl, a city in southeastern Poland where she studied hospitality, has spent the past six months providing relief work in Ukraine, Morocco, Turkey and Gaza.
“He was truly an extraordinary person. We were so proud of him,” said Marta Wilczynska of the Free Place Foundation, which works with World Central Kitchen.
A few days after the Russian invasion in February 2022, Wilczynska met Sobol on the Polish side of the border with Ukraine. He spoke good English, could translate, and was an effective manager, able to organize work in any situation, she said.
“Always smiling, always kind, he loved this job. I felt like he had a brother,” Wilczynska said.
Mikolaj Rykowski, president of the Free Place Foundation, said Sobol was “a man capable of any task and was able to overcome all difficulties.”
“There are no words to describe how those who knew this wonderful young man are feeling right now,” Przemysl Mayor Wojciech Bakun said in a Facebook post about Sobol's death.
John Champin, James Kirby, James Henderson, England
The three British victims were military veterans who were working as security guards for the World Central Kitchen relief effort.
British media reports said Chapman, 57, and Kirby, 47, were former Royal Marines, while Henderson, 33, known as Jim, was a British Army veteran.
