### Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Kills Five, Including World Central Kitchen Workers

An Israeli airstrike struck a vehicle in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, resulting in five fatalities, among them at least three staff members from the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen, according to information from Gaza's health ministry. The Israeli military stated that its objective was a militant purportedly involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. The military also alleged that the individual had been employed by World Central Kitchen and urged the charity to review its personnel in Gaza.

In response, World Central Kitchen expressed devastation over the incident in Khan Younis and announced that it is urgently seeking more details. The organization emphasized that it had no prior information suggesting any connections between the individuals in the vehicle and the October 7 attack. As a precaution, World Central Kitchen has temporarily suspended its operations in Gaza.

This is not the first time the charity has faced tragedy in the region. In April, World Central Kitchen temporarily halted its activities after seven of its team members were killed in an Israeli airstrike, which Israel later described as an error. The organization resumed its mission in Gaza a few weeks afterward, despite the risks.

The attack on October 7, 2023, carried out by Hamas militants, resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties. In the aftermath, Israel's military operations in Gaza have led to the deaths of over 44,000 Palestinians, as noted by Gaza's health ministry. The ongoing conflict, coupled with Israeli border restrictions, has severely limited the flow of aid into Gaza. Recent shipments have reached their lowest levels since the onset of the conflict, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Humanitarian agencies, including the World Food Programme, have reported that over 400,000 individuals in northern Gaza are facing extreme food scarcity. Experts warn that the region is on the verge of a famine, underlining the urgent need for increased aid and international intervention.