World Central Kitchen closes Gaza Strip’s main kitchen after Israeli attacks

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Global disaster relief program World Central Kitchen announced it had suspended operations at its main kitchen in Rafah following “sustained” Israeli attacks.

In a post on X, the group said it had been forced to relocate many of its smaller community kitchens to northern Gaza.

As the Israeli military continues to advance into Rafah, millions of people have been displaced from the city.

According to the UN, Rafah was full of families seeking refuge as the Israeli offensive in Gaza advanced southward across the Gaza Strip.

One of the group’s kitchens in the town of Deir al-Balah, where displaced Palestinians are currently fleeing in search of safety, served the largest quantities of meals, World Central Kitchen said in a separate statement.

The organization said 58 of its aid trucks had been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip since Sunday, allowing it to distribute 100,000 meals the day before the announcement.

In April, seven WCK workers were killed in a strike by Israeli forces. Following the attack, the group suspended its work in Gaza, but announced it would resume work at the end of April.