Seven aid workers from several different countries have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
Nationals from Australia, Poland, the UK and a dual citizen of the US and Canada were killed, as well as a Palestinian who was driving the car they were all travelling in.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it has not been made aware of any Irish citizen caught up in the attack.
The volunteers were employed by the World Central Kitchen, which provides food for displaced Palestinians.
Its Chief Executive Erin Gore said the team was "travelling in a deconflicted zone in two armoured cars branded with the WCK logo and a soft skin vehicle".
Despite coordinating movements with the Israel Defence Forces, the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al Balah warehouse, the charity said.
It added it is pausing its operations immediately in the region.
Ismail al Thawabta, a spokesperson for a Hamas-run government office in Gaza, said Israel was responsible for their deaths.
'This is unforgivable'
Ms Gore accused Israel of a 'targeted attack' against the aid workers.
“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organisations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war", she said.
"This is unforgivable.
"I am heartbroken and appalled that we - World Central Kitchen and the world - lost beautiful lives today because of a targeted attack by the IDF.
"The love they had for feeding people, the determination they embodied to show that humanity rises above all, and the impact they made in countless lives will forever be remembered and cherished," she added.
'Indiscriminate killing'
The IDF has said it is carrying out a "thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident".
The workers' car was hit by an airstrike just after crossing from northern Gaza - and it is believed they were helping to deliver aid that had arrived hours earlier on a ship from Cyprus.
WCK founder José Andrés described the volunteers as "angels" who had served around the world and said he was grieving for their families.
He added: "The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon.
"No more innocent lives lost. Peace starts with our shared humanity. It needs to start now."
Founded by celebrity chef Mr Andrés in 2010, the WCK said last month it had served more than 42 million meals in Gaza over 175 days.
The aid ships that arrived on Monday carried hundreds of tonnes of food and supplies in a shipment organised by the United Arab Emirates and the WCK.
Additional reporting: IRN
