World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced on Tuesday a temporary pause in its efforts to provide food aid to Palestinians in Gaza following the tragic loss of seven of its workers in an Israeli strike. The humanitarian organization stated that the team was targeted while leaving a warehouse where they had unloaded over 100 tons of food aid brought to Gaza by sea, a route facilitated by WCK just last month. According to WCK, the convoy was traveling in a designated safe zone, in vehicles clearly marked with their logo, and had coordinated their movements with the Israeli military. Israel has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
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World Central Kitchen
Erin Gore, CEO of World Central Kitchen, condemned the attack as a “targeted assault,” describing it as an affront not only to WCK but to all humanitarian organizations providing aid in conflict zones where food is weaponized. Founded by celebrity chef José Andrés and his wife Patricia in 2010, WCK delivers food aid to populations affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide.
The seven staff members killed in the Gaza strike hailed from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, and Palestine, WCK reported.
NATO’s Plan to Secure $100 Billion Military Aid Package for Ukraine
NATO is formulating plans to secure a five-year military aid package worth up to $100 billion to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities amid concerns over potential political shifts, including the prospect of another Trump presidency. The proposed Mission for Ukraine initiative, to be discussed by NATO foreign ministers, aims to coordinate the substantial support pledged by the alliance’s 32 members. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has presented the proposal as a safeguard against political uncertainties, seeking to fortify the alliance’s role in managing the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine and assuming control of the US-led Ramstein weapons support group. The plan is viewed as a significant step, with consensus expected to be reached before the Nato leaders’ summit in Washington.
President Zelensky Signs Law Lowering Military Mobilization Age in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law a bill reducing the military mobilization age from 27 to 25, aiming to bolster reserves amid declining volunteer numbers. The move comes amid heightened concerns of a potential Russian offensive in the coming months. Zelensky’s decision to enact the legislation underscores the urgency of strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the face of evolving security threats.
Deadly Earthquake Strikes Taiwan, Prompting Rescue Efforts
Taiwan is reeling from the aftermath of a powerful offshore earthquake that claimed at least seven lives and left 711 injured. The magnitude 7.4 quake, the strongest to hit the island in 25 years, struck the eastern coast, causing buildings in Taipei and surrounding areas to shake violently. Rescue efforts are underway in Hualien county, near the epicenter, where numerous individuals are feared trapped under rubble. Despite initial tsunami alerts being issued for nearby Japanese islands and the northern coast of the Philippines, they have since been downgraded. President Tsai Ing-wen has mobilized Taiwan’s military to aid in rescue operations, with assistance offered by Japan and China.
