World Central Kitchen (WCK) will hold an interfaith celebration of life at the National Cathedral Thursday to honor their seven aid workers who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza while delivering food to Palestinians in early April.
The service will be live streamed at 11 a.m. on the organization’s website to honor Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, John Chapman, Jacob Flickinger, Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, James Henderson, James Kirby and Damian Soból.
Chef José Andres, the founder of WCK, is expected to speak at the event, along with a performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will also attend the event and a letter from President Joe Biden, who said he was “outraged” by the deaths, will be read.
At least 196 humanitarian workers have been killed in Palestine since October, according to the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the region. WCK suspended its operations in Gaza after the attack, and some other humanitarian groups followed suit. Israel’s blockade and six-month assault on Gaza has fueled a growing hunger crisis in the area, according to the United Nations.
