Israel and World Central Kitchen revealed that armed terrorists in Gaza disguised themselves as WCK aid workers to evade detection and target troops.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) on Tuesday confirmed Israeli military reports that terrorists in the Gaza Strip had been caught masquerading as the organization’s aid workers in a calculated bid to exploit humanitarian protections.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a targeted airstrike last week eliminated five armed terrorists traveling in a vehicle marked with WCK’s emblem. The militants, the IDF said, had no connection to the charity but were posing as its staff, complete with yellow vests, to avoid being targeted while threatening Israeli forces.
The military condemned the deception as a cynical abuse of humanitarian trust, designed to shield combatants from military action and endanger genuine aid operations.
WCK confirmed the account in a statement, saying it was contacted by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and verified that the individuals and vehicle were “not affiliated” with the group.
“We strongly condemn anyone posing as WCK or other humanitarians as this endangers civilians and aid workers. The safety and security of our teams are our top priority,” the organization stressed.
The revelation reopens painful memories for WCK. In April 2024, seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, which then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi described as a tragic case of misidentification. The incident led to the dismissal of two officers and formal reprimands for senior commanders. WCK temporarily halted food aid in Gaza before resuming a month later.
The charity also faced controversy in December 2024, when it dismissed dozens of Palestinian staff after Israel alleged that at least 62 had links to terrorist groups.
With humanitarian operations already under intense strain, the use of aid group identities by armed militants threatens to erode the fragile trust that keeps such missions alive in conflict zones.World Central Kitchen (WCK) on Tuesday confirmed Israeli military reports that terrorists in the Gaza Strip had been caught masquerading as the organization’s aid workers in a calculated bid to exploit humanitarian protections.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a targeted airstrike last week eliminated five armed terrorists traveling in a vehicle marked with WCK’s emblem. The militants, the IDF said, had no connection to the charity but were posing as its staff, complete with yellow vests, to avoid being targeted while threatening Israeli forces.
The military condemned the deception as a cynical abuse of humanitarian trust, designed to shield combatants from military action and endanger genuine aid operations.
WCK confirmed the account in a statement, saying it was contacted by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and verified that the individuals and vehicle were “not affiliated” with the group.
“We strongly condemn anyone posing as WCK or other humanitarians as this endangers civilians and aid workers. The safety and security of our teams are our top priority,” the organization stressed.
The revelation reopens painful memories for WCK. In April 2024, seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, which then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi described as a tragic case of misidentification. The incident led to the dismissal of two officers and formal reprimands for senior commanders. WCK temporarily halted food aid in Gaza before resuming a month later.
The charity also faced controversy in December 2024, when it dismissed dozens of Palestinian staff after Israel alleged that at least 62 had links to terrorist groups.
With humanitarian operations already under intense strain, the use of aid group identities by armed militants threatens to erode the fragile trust that keeps such missions alive in conflict zones.
