World Central Kitchen Fires Dozens of Palestinians in Gaza

Israel Alleges Links to Militant Groups

Volunteers in a kitchen run by World Central Kitchen prepare food for displaced Palestinians in Rafah camp, southern Gaza Strip. (EPA Images pic)

CAIRO: US-based charity World Central Kitchen fired dozens of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, at least three workers told Reuters, after Israel said at least 62 staff were linked to militant groups.

In a message to staff, WCK confirmed that it had “made changes” after Israel demanded an investigation into its hiring practices in Gaza.

“This should not be taken as a conclusion by WCK that the individuals are affiliated with any terror organisation,” it said, adding that Israel had not shared its intelligence and “we do not know the basis for Israel’s decision to flag these individuals.”

It said it had taken the step “to protect our team and our operations”. A WCK spokesperson confirmed 62 people had been let go.

Background to the Firings

An Israeli security official told Reuters that Israel had demanded an investigation into staff potentially linked to the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, after it said a WCK employee identified as Ahed Azmi Qdeih took part in the attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage.

Qdeih was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Nov 30. WCK confirmed the airstrike at the time and said it had no knowledge about an employee involved in last year’s attack.

The official said an Israeli security review found that 62 WCK employees had “affiliations and direct connections” with militant groups.

“Consequently, senior Israeli officials demanded that WCK terminate the employment of those workers,” he said.

Similar Allegations Against UNRWA Staff

The Israeli allegations against WCK staff echo similar accusations against staff working for the main United Nations Palestinian relief body UNRWA. In August, the United Nations said nine UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the Oct 7 attacks and had been fired.

Reaction from WCK Workers

Two WCK workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns, said they had been informed the termination was based on an Israeli assessment of the workers and came for “security reasons”, a term usually used to indicate links with Palestinian militant groups.

“They told me and others that Israel rejected us for security reasons. It is a joke,” one worker told Reuters, asking not to be named fearing Israeli reprisals.

Conclusion

The firings by World Central Kitchen have sparked concerns about the impact on humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip. The charity’s decision to terminate the employment of dozens of Palestinians has been met with criticism from some quarters, who argue that the allegations against the staff are unfounded and that the move will only serve to further destabilize the already fragile situation in the region.

FAQs

Q: Why did World Central Kitchen fire dozens of Palestinians in Gaza?
A: Israel alleged that the staff were linked to militant groups and demanded an investigation into WCK’s hiring practices in Gaza.

Q: How many staff were affected by the firings?
A: At least 62 staff were let go by WCK.

Q: What is the reason given for the terminations?
A: WCK cited “security reasons” as the reason for the terminations, a term usually used to indicate links with Palestinian militant groups.

Q: Has World Central Kitchen commented on the firings?
A: Yes, WCK confirmed that it had made changes to its staff after Israel demanded an investigation into its hiring practices in Gaza.