Israeli Army Kills Five Palestinians Posing as Humanitarian Workers

The Israeli army announced on Tuesday that it killed five Palestinians in an airstrike last week, accusing them of posing as humanitarian workers while being militants.

According to a military statement, the five men were “standing near a vehicle marked with the emblem of the international humanitarian aid organisation ‘World Central Kitchen’ (WCK), despite having no affiliation with the organisation, and while posing a threat to our troops.”

The army did not specify the nature of the threat.

Aerial footage released by the military showed several individuals near a WCK-marked vehicle wearing yellow vests, typically used by aid workers for visibility, with some appearing armed.

The army said the vests were used to “conceal their activity and avoid being targeted.”

The statement did not identify which militant group the men belonged to.

Before the strike, the military confirmed with WCK that the vehicle spotted in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza was not connected to the organisation.

WCK told AFP that “the vehicle and persons of interest were not affiliated” with them.

The aid group condemned anyone impersonating WCK or other humanitarian workers, warning that such acts endanger civilians and aid personnel. “The safety and security of our teams are our top priority,” WCK emphasized.