World Central Kitchen fires 62 workers in Gaza after Israel accuses them of terror ties

The World Central Kitchen, a US-based charity, has fired dozens of Palestinians working for it in the Gaza Strip, at least three workers tell Reuters, after Israel said at least 62 staff are linked to Palestinian terror groups.

In a message to 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 any terror organization,” it says, adding that Israel has not shared its intelligence and “we do not know the basis for Israel’s decision to flag these individuals.”

It says it has taken the step “to protect our team and our operations.” A WCK spokesperson confirms 62 people have been let go.

An Israeli security official tells Reuters that Israel demanded an investigation into staff potentially linked to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, onslaught in southern Israel, 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 November 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 says an Israeli security review found that 62 WCK employees have “affiliations and direct connections” with terror groups.

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

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 October 7 attacks and had been fired.