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Former staff at World Central Kitchen censored sensitive material coming out of the Gaza Strip and took a stance against aid only in the months-long war after an Israeli attack killed seven aid workers blamed the group.
In an opinion article published in Mondo WeissRamsey Telhami, a Palestinian-American, told a liberal news site that in March he resigned from an aid organization where he worked as a video editor in protest of the group's rejection of calls for a ceasefire and condemnation of Israel's blockade of Gaza. Announced.
He also said that important context in his works is often omitted, detracting from the seriousness of the enclave's situation.
“The WCK leadership has taken a six-month delay in taking a stand since seven of its staff members were murdered,” Telhami said in an article published Thursday.
Earlier this month, Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen, said after Israeli forces killed seven aid workers that Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip was no longer a “war on terror” but a “fight against humanity.” “It's a war against itself.”
He said the military had deliberately attacked the convoy and called for an independent investigation into the incident.
The organization also announced it would cease operations in Gaza.
Charity boss Jose Andres says Israel is targeting Gaza workers – video
Charity boss Jose Andres says Israel is targeting Gaza workers
The attack not only sparked international outrage, but also President Joe Biden's threat that U.S. aid to Israel could change if more is not done to address the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.
Israel apologized and said it had mistaken the convoy for Hamas operatives. Israel has also authorized an unprecedented level of aid to Gaza since it launched a major military operation in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials.
Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 33,000 Palestinians and reduced much of the coastal enclave to rubble, according to local health authorities.
In a written response, Mondo Weiss World Central Kitchen said it is committed to keeping its staff safe and feeding those in need.
World Central Kitchen workers killed in Israeli strike – see in pictures
“However, all safety training and armored vehicles cannot prevent missiles,” the organization said. National.
“As [Israeli military] While acknowledging responsibility for these tragic deaths, WCK did everything right in coordinating the movement. That is why we are calling for an independent external investigation into the murder of our colleague. ”
Aid groups say hunger is already occurring in the Gaza Strip, especially among the most vulnerable people, as Israel restricts food imports.
“WCK has toed the Biden administration’s line on Gaza until the highly publicized massacre of its employees forced it to take other action,” Telhami wrote.
The group set up an open-air kitchen in Rafah, built a network of community kitchens across Gaza, and sent hundreds of aid packages, according to its website.
Mr. Andrés, 54, is a famous Spanish-American chef who founded a food relief NGO in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Since then, his organization has provided meals to migrants arriving at the U.S. southern border, health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic, and Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion.
Days after the start of the Israel-Gaza war, Andres posted a video on social media condemning Hamas for killing innocent civilians in Israel on October 7, and saying that “people are dying” in Gaza. He said he was heartbroken.
“Chef Jose Andres, people are not 'dying' in Gaza,” Palestinian-American chef Michael Rafidi responded in a comment.
“People are being killed, and those people are Palestinians.”
Days later, Andrés posted on social media that Spain's Social Rights Minister Lone Belara criticized Israel for not allowing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin was “protecting the Israeli people.” , wrote that he should be fired.
In the weeks after the war, aid organizations fed people in Israel who had fled Hamas rocket attacks and fled at the start of the Gaza war.
Telhami said he and dozens of other staff at World Central Kitchen condemned the move, arguing that Israel, the world's 25th richest country, did not need the aid.
“By continuing to provide meals in Israel alongside its operations in Gaza, WCK is creating a false and dangerous perception that the situation in Gaza and Israel is equivalent,” according to a letter to NGO leaders in December. 42 people signed the petition. member of staff.
Telhami said World Central Kitchen continued to serve meals in Israel until January.
Updated: April 12, 2024, 11:02 p.m.
