Chef José Andrés stated that he does not believe the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen volunteers in Gaza were an accident.
Andrés said that the IDF deliberately targeted their team in an area under IDF control, knowing their location and the vehicles they were using. ReutersHe believes that his team was targeted systematically, one car at a time.
Andrés insisted that the bombing was not a result of bad luck, as the charity group had informed the Israeli military about their location and had clearance to proceed.
He explained that the humanitarian convoy had clear markings and a recognizable logo, making it obvious who they were and what they were doing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video acknowledging the airstrike as unintentional and expressed regret for harming non-combatants in Gaza.
In response to Andrés’ comments, a military spokesperson reiterated previous statements from IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi, stating that the attack was not intended to harm WCK aid workers.
In his editorial titled “Let People Eat,” Andrés honored the seven people killed in the mission, emphasizing that they were not just faceless victims.He named all seven victims and highlighted their courage and sacrifice in providing much-needed food aid to the people of Gaza.He cited a statistic showing the dire food security situation in Gaza to emphasize the importance of the aid provided by the team members.
He explained that the team put their lives at risk due to the scarcity and critical need for food aid in Gaza.
As a result of the catastrophic airstrike, World Central Kitchen has temporarily suspended operations in Gaza.
WKC has also been active in Ukraine, where they came under fire by Russian forces. An Israeli military spokesperson states that the deaths of seven humanitarian aid workers on Monday was a “grave mistake.”. WKC has also been active in Ukraine, where they came under fire by Russian forces in 2022.
