In response to Monday’s announcement that seven World Central Kitchen workers were killed during hunger relief operations in Gaza, Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ longest-running, volunteer-led, national charitable organization, issued the following statement:
“We were shocked and saddened by yesterday’s news that seven World Central Kitchen relief workers were killed by Israeli airstrikes while delivering much-needed aid to Gaza. WCK sends teams and aid where they are desperately needed, which is quite often into harm’s way, so while this type of danger is not unknown to WCK, Chef Jose Andres has announced the suspension of WCK’s relief efforts in Gaza. Since 2019, our industry has united to support WCK’s efforts to feed communities impacted by crisis, climate and conflict around the globe, and we stand united with Chef Andres, the WCK team and the families who lost loved ones. We also offer our hope for a swift return to peace that will allow their humanitarian efforts to resume.”