Family of World Central Kitchen worker killed in Gaza airstrike deny he was terrorist: AP

WASHINGTON (7News) — The World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced that they are pausing operating in Gaza after an Israeli airstrike killed several of their workers.

In a statement, World Central Kitchen officials say they are “urgently seeking more details,” as they are currently “working with incomplete information.”

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On their Twitter/X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) named one of those killed as Hazmi Kadih. The IDF called Kadih a “terrorist,” and claimed that he took part in the October 7 attack.

In the same statement, the IDF claims that Kadih also worked for World Central Kitchen. They request “senior officials from the international community and the WCK administration to clarify the issue and order an urgent examination regarding the hiring of workers who took part in the October 7 massacre and terrorist attacks against the State of Israel.”

According to the Associated Press, Ahed Azmi Qdeih, a family member of Kadih, confirmed that Kadih worked for the WCK and rejected the IDF’s allegations in a statement as “false accusations.”

World Central Kitchen was created by Bethesda-based Chef José Andrés, and is based in Washington, D.C. The goal of the organization is to provide meals to those affected by humanitarian, climate, and community crises.

Seven WCK aid workers were killed in Gaza delivering food to starving Palestinian civilians last April.

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Read the WCK’s full statement below:

We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details.

World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack.

World Central Kitchen is pausing operations in Gaza at this time.

Our hearts are with our colleagues and their families in this unimaginable moment.