Humanitarian Worker Killed in Gaza

August 8 (UPI) – World Central Kitchen, a U.S.-based humanitarian organization founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, has reported the death of Nadi Sallout, a Palestinian team member, in central Gaza. Sallout was killed near Deir al-Balah, underscoring the increasing dangers faced by humanitarian workers in the ongoing conflict. The charity expressed its condolences, stating that Sallout was a vital part of their warehouse team and a dedicated humanitarian. They are still gathering details about the incident but believe he was off duty at the time of his death. The organization highlighted the alarming trend of aid workers being killed during Israeli military operations, noting that such incidents occur weekly with little accountability. Critics argue that the international community has become desensitized to the rising number of casualties among humanitarian workers. Sallout's death follows a tragic event in April when seven World Central Kitchen employees were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their convoy, which drew widespread condemnation and marked a shift in the Biden administration's stance on Israel's military tactics in Gaza. Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, following a surprise attack by Hamas, World Central Kitchen has been active in Gaza, providing nearly 60 million meals. However, the organization has faced escalating challenges, with areas near their kitchens becoming targets for Israeli military operations, hindering their ability to resupply. Currently, eleven of their kitchens have ceased operations, and eight others are cut off from receiving aid.