Militants Disguised as World Central Kitchen Staff Killed in Gaza; Spain Evacuates Children, Aid Airdrops Continue

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said terrorists in central Gaza disguised themselves as members of the humanitarian group World Central Kitchen (WCK), using the charity’s logo and yellow vests to mask their identities. Earlier this week, Israeli forces identified five armed militants near a vehicle bearing the WCK emblem in the Deir al-Balah area and struck the group in an air operation, the IDF stated.

On Friday, the IDF took out active Hamas operative and Al-Jazeera reporter Anas Al Sharif, alongside 4 other journalists. The IDF reported that Al-Sharif was getting paid by Hamas, and was the head of a Hamas terror cell that advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and troops. 

According to the military, the operatives had no affiliation with WCK and aimed to exploit the trust afforded to aid workers. COGAT officials said they confirmed with WCK that the vehicle was not connected to the organization. The IDF characterized the incident as a deliberate attempt to misuse a humanitarian symbol to avoid being targeted.

In parallel, Spain has evacuated 44 wounded or ill children from Gaza over recent months, along with roughly 100 accompanying family members, in four separate missions coordinated by the migration ministry with international partners. The evacuees have been dispersed across Spain to receive medical care and will be eligible to apply for asylum. Migration Minister Elma Saiz said the effort underscores how solidarity and international cooperation can save lives. The missions come as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government maintains one of the EU’s more critical stances on Israel’s military campaign.

Humanitarian assistance also continued by air: the IDF reported that aircraft from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, France, and Italy dropped 97 pallets—about one ton each—into the Gaza Strip today. Israel resumed airdrops on July 26 amid mounting global criticism over Gaza’s hunger crisis. While the drops help reach some areas, the IDF acknowledged they provide only a fraction of what can move by land and carry risks for civilians beneath falling packages.