At least three employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a U.S.-based charity, told Reuters of the dismissal of dozens of Palestinians who worked for the charity in the Gaza Strip, after Israel reported that At least 62 personnel were linked to Palestinian terrorist groups.
In a message to its staff, WCK confirms that it has “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 a terrorist organization,” the message said, adding that Israel has not shared its intelligence and that “we do not know the basis of the Israel’s decision to report these individuals.
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The organization specifies that it took this measure “to protect its team and its operations”. A WCK spokesperson confirmed that 62 people were laid off.
An Israeli security official told Reuters that Israel had demanded an investigation into personnel potentially linked to the October 7, 2023, pogrom carried out by Hamas in southern Israel, after saying that a WCK employee, Ahed Azmi Qdeih, participated in the attack, which left more than 1,200 dead and 251 hostages.
Qdeih was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on November 30.
WCK confirmed the airstrike at the time and said it was not aware of any employee’s involvement in last year’s attack.
The official said an Israeli security review found that 62 WCK employees had “direct affiliations and connections” with terrorist groups.
“As a result, senior Israeli officials demanded that WCK terminate the employment of these workers,” he added.
The Israeli allegations against WCK staff echo similar accusations against staff working for UNRWA, the United Nations’ main Palestinian aid agency. In August, the United Nations said nine staff members at the controversial UNRWA agency may have been involved in the Oct. 7 attacks and had been fired.
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