IDF kills Hamas terrorist who also worked for World Central Kitchen in Gaza strike

The IDF announced on Saturday evening that it successfully targeted and eliminated Ahed Azmi Qudeih, a terrorist, in a strike on his vehicle. The strike was first announced in Palestinian media.

The Palestinian Authority-affiliated Wafa news site reported that “5 civilians, including 3 employees of the World Central Kitchen Organization, were killed in the Israeli occupation shelling of a civilian vehicle on Salah al-Din Road in the eastern line area, northeast of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.” 

The IDF stated that Qudeih had been under surveillance by military intelligence and that the strike was carried out based on credible intelligence about his real-time location.

Along with other Hamas terrorists, Qudeih infiltrated Israel, taking part in the Oct. 7 massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz last year.

Qudeih also worked for the World Central Kitchen (WCK) organization. Following the incident, representatives of Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) demanded senior officials from the international community and the WCK administration clarify the issue. They ordered an urgent examination of the hiring of workers who took part in the Oct. 7 massacre and terror attacks against the State of Israel. 

WCK released a statement on its website following the strike, disavowing any knowledge of its employees being members of the Hamas terrorist group. 

“We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza,” the statement read. “At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details.”

“World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack,” the organization stated in response to the IDF allegations. “World Central Kitchen is pausing operations in Gaza at this time. Our hearts are with our colleagues and their families in this unimaginable moment.” 

Social media users noted that Qudeih had shared posts glorifying Hamas' attacks on Israel on various platforms.

I found the Facebook account of Ahed Azmi Qadi, the @WCKitchen employee who was also a terrorist who participated in the October 7th massacre.

Let's see what he's posted🧵 https://t.co/yuMVW8auLB pic.twitter.com/32XDgGIT5y

— Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) November 30, 2024

Following the announcement of Qudeih's elimination, COGAT urged international organizations in Gaza to provide Israeli authorities with details of their local employees.

“Following the incident, our 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 7th massacre and terrorist attacks against the State of Israel,” the statement from COGAT read. 

The @IDF eliminated a terrorist who took part in the October 7th massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz.

The terrorist, Hazmi Kadih, also worked for the @WCKitchen organization.

Following the incident, our representatives demanded senior officials from the international community and the… https://t.co/5IaXcJ5xfc

— COGAT (@cogatonline) November 30, 2024

The military said IDF troops and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) forces “will continue to operate to locate and eliminate terrorists who conduct terrorist activities against the civilians of Israel and those involved in the murderous October 7th massacre.” 

The IDF clarified that while several social media posts have attempted to link Qudeih to specific attacks on Oct. 7, it does not have evidence to confirm those claims.

“We emphasize that according to current information, it is not possible to link the terrorist to a specific abduction attempt,” the statement read. “The IDF requests to follow the announcements of official sources only and to avoid the spreading of rumors that hurt the families and the public.”