Remembering seven lives lost: An interfaith celebration of life honors Gaza aid workers killed by Israeli forces
The National Cathedral is set to host an interfaith Celebration of Life in honor of the seven aid workers who were tragically 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.
Celebrity Chef José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK), is expected to speak at the event, where people of all faiths will come together to 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.
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 present at the ceremony. The tragic incident occurred following a two-week raid on Shifa Hospital by Israeli troops during which these volunteers lost their lives while 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 behind this unfortunate incident. For more information on the victims visit [insert link here].
