Dhaka, Dec 1 (UNB)-An Israeli airstrike on Saturday struck a car in Gaza, killing five individuals, including employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK). The charity expressed heartbreak and uncertainty, stating it had no prior knowledge of any connection between the workers and the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war. Israel's military claimed one of the victims, identified as Ahed Azmi Qdeih, was involved in the assault on Nir Oz kibbutz and had ties to Hamas. Qdeih’s family denied the allegations, asserting that he had worked for WCK.

The strike is the latest in a series of attacks on aid workers in Gaza. WCK had previously suspended operations following an Israeli airstrike in April that killed seven of its staff. The organization also paused its work earlier this year after another strike killed a Palestinian worker.

This incident occurred as another Israeli airstrike hit a car near a food distribution site in Khan Younis, killing 13 people, including children. Save the Children reported that a local employee was also killed in the same region, while other airstrikes in Gaza and southern Lebanon continued to escalate the humanitarian crisis.

Additionally, Hamas released a new hostage video on Saturday, showing Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander pleading under duress. The video highlights the ongoing suffering of hostages in Gaza and the international pressures on Israel and Hamas.

Meanwhile, the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon appears to be holding, although sporadic violence continues in both Gaza and Lebanon, underscoring the broader instability in the region.

Source: With inputs from agencies

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