An interfaith Celebration of Life will be hosted by World Central Kitchen (WCK) at the National Cathedral to honor the seven aid workers who were killed in Gaza while delivering food to civilians in need. The memorial service will take place on Thursday at 11 a.m. and will be live-streamed for the public to join.
The service will pay tribute to Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha of Palestine, John Chapman of Britain, Jacob Flickinger of the U.S. and Canada, Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom of Australia, James Henderson of Britain, James Kirby of Britain, and Damian Soból of Poland. Celebrity Chef José Andrés, the founder of WCK, is expected to speak at the event, where people of all faiths will come together to honor the fallen heroes.
Acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform at the service, and a letter from President Joe Biden will be read. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will also be in attendance. The tragic incident occurred following a two-week raid on Shifa Hospital by Israeli troops, during which the workers were killed. Aid volunteers in Gaza have been tirelessly providing aid to Palestinians who have been facing food shortages due to Israeli blockades established after a Hamas attack.
The risks faced by aid workers in Gaza are significant, with approximately 200 volunteers losing their lives since the crisis began. The Israeli military has stated that they are conducting a review to understand the circumstances of the incident. For more information on the victims