Last night, World Central Kitchen, an organization founded by chef Jose Andrés that provides food to areas facing humanitarian crises around the world, said its team members were killed in an Israeli Defense Force attack in Gaza. Seven people were announced dead. WCK said in a press release that the team was traveling through the conflict zone in vehicles clearly marked with the organization's logo and was coordinating their movements with the IDF. Nevertheless, “the convoy was hit as it was leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid that it had transported to Gaza by sea route.”
“Today, we are heartbroken that we, World Central Kitchen and the world lost a beautiful life in a targeted attack by the Israeli Defense Forces,” said Erin Gore, CEO of World Central Kitchen. I am appalled,'' he said. “Their love of feeding people, the determination they embodied to show that humanity is better than anything else, and the impact they had on countless lives will be forever remembered and cherished. It will be done.”
Andres also posted about the attack on X (formerly Twitter). “Our hearts are broken and we are saddened by their families and friends and our entire WCK family.” he writes. “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 people. No life will be lost. Peace begins with our shared humanity. We must start now.”
Following the attack, the Israeli military said it would investigate, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “This is what happens in war. We are investigating this thoroughly, we are in contact with governments and we are taking all necessary steps.” We will take measures.” Don't let something like this happen again. ” as new york times Humanitarian organizations have generally criticized the Israeli military's ability to investigate itself transparently, charging that investigations are often lengthy and rarely result in prosecutions. vehicle video There is a large hole in the top of the car, clearly marked with the WCK logo.
WCK told Eater it had no further comment beyond the posted statement, but said the organization is suspending operations in the area until further notice. Recently, WCK became the first organization to successfully send aid to Gaza by ship.of wall street journal The organization writes that it defeated the US military in building a pier to deliver aid to Gaza. (Military plans for the pier proceeded even as the United States continued to finance the bombing of Gaza.) “The United Nations provides almost 80 percent of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, but The world's central kitchens account for more than half of non-aid aid.'' United Nations Food Delivery; wall street journal I will report. World Central Kitchen recently posted that it has set up more than 60 kitchens in Gaza.
The aid was critical because in March, Congress voted to cut the budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), leaving Palestinians facing starvation. In March, the United Nations announced that 70% of residents in northern Gaza were facing devastating hunger and that famine was “imminent.” The Associated Press reported that children are already dying of hunger. Since October, Palestinian chefs in the United States have formed an organization to support the ceasefire in Gaza.
Andres is I previously requested that President Joe Biden Calling for a ceasefire: “The ‘better tomorrow’ you are talking about starts with demanding: @Netanyahu Stop the killing of children targeting humanitarian volunteers and media!'' he posted in March. In a post about X last night, WCK wrote: Humanitarian aid workers and civilians must never be targeted. Until now. “
