Two charity aid workers killed in Gaza airstrikes, Israel claims one of them was October 7 attacker

Israel, however, claimed one of the deceased persons was a 'terrorist' who took part in the October 7 Hamas attack.

Israel Defense Forces said he was attached to the World Central Kitchen, a US-based charity.

IDF identified him as Hazmi Kadih.

"Earlier today, the IDF struck a vehicle with a terrorist, Hazmi Kadih, who took part in invading Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre. Kadih was monitored by IDF intelligence for a while and was struck following credible information regarding his real-time location," IDF posted on X sharing details about the slain 'terrorist'.

"Kadih also worked for the @WCKitchen organization, and following the incident, @cogatonline representatives demanded senior officials from the international community and the WCK administration to clarify the issue and order an urgent examination regarding the hiring of workers who took part in the October 7 massacre and terrorist attacks against the State of Israel," IDF said.

The World Central Kitchen confirmed the airstrikes and posted in a statement on X: " We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza."

Speaking on the alleged involvement of its member with the October 7 attack, the organisation said: "World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack."

The World Central Kitchen said it is pausing operations in Gaza at this time following the attack.

In another statement, the international aid agency Save the Children said its staff member Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis.

The organisation said he is the second Save the Children staff who was killed in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

"Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi, 39, had worked for the administrative team in Gaza since May 2024. He was killed early Saturday afternoon as he was returning home to his wife and three-year-old daughter from the mosque. Up to 17 people were reported killed in at least two separate attacks in Khan Younis on Saturday," the organisation said in a statement.

It is still not clear whether the two persons were killed in the same strike.