Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen, spoke at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday at the Lives Across Religions event held in memory of the seven aid workers from the chef advocacy group who were killed in the Israeli bombing of Gaza. At the festival, he made emotional and sometimes heart-wrenching statements. Defense Force earlier this month.
Andres mourned his team members, his voice pained with grief but firm. He saluted their dedication “to answer the call to serve on behalf of all humanity.”
”[They] I did everything to feed people I didn't know and would never see again,” Andres said.
The service honored the Palestinian man Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abu Taha. Three Englishmen, John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby. Jacob Flickinger, dual citizen of the United States and Canada. Australia's Lalzaumi “Zomi” Francome. and Damian Sobol from Poland.
Andres credited Chapman with making those around her feel “loved and protected,” and Flickinger with “a leader, a problem solver and a lighthouse.” They shared detailed stories about each aid worker, including:
Francome was “the living, breathing, smiling center of everything we did…Her compassion and curiosity were truly contagious,” Andres said through tears, calling Francome the one person who He said that she was his younger sister.
Israeli officials have repeatedly defended military operations in Gaza, insisting they take steps to limit civilian deaths while allowing aid to flow in that does not benefit Hamas.
An Israeli military investigation into how the strike that killed the workers happened said the decision to attack the support convoy was a “grave violation” of regulations and the team responsible for carrying it out was condemned to do so. It pointed out that there was a lack of sufficient evidence for this, and that there were two violations of operational rules. rule. The Israel Defense Forces announced that it had dismissed two officers, suspended two commanders and disciplined three others as a result of the attack, which Israeli authorities described as a “grave” error. ing.
Andres said questions about the deadly attack on the marked aid truck, the actions of the IDF, and the war itself need to be viewed with moral clarity.
“I know we all have many unanswered questions about what happened and why it happened. There is no excuse for these killings, there is none. ''Andres said. “The official explanation is not enough. And we clearly demand an investigation into the IDF's actions against our team. Even if one innocent life is taken, that is too many. .”
The United Nations said the aid workers were among about 200 humanitarian workers killed since Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war.
The chef told mourners that the humanitarians he worked with always ran into dire situations and gave hope by cooking, distributing food and nourishing souls.
“We stand with our communities as they feed themselves, nourish themselves, and heal themselves,” he said of his colleagues at World Central Kitchen.
Andres said it is the mission of the Seven Fallen to stand next to people in need and face obstacles together.
“People don't want our pity. They want our respect. The only way we can show respect is by facing the mayhem with them. By showing up, we remind them that they are not alone in the dark.”
Although the organization's operations in Gaza have been suspended since the deadly attack, Andres said World Central Kitchen will “carry on the spirit of the fallen” and continue its humanitarian work in Gaza and around the world. He said he hopes to do so.
“We will not forget what they did for the hungry and the world. We will honor their names. We will not forget the lives they lived,” Andres said. said.
President Joe Biden sent a personal letter to Andres expressing his condolences, and Andres read the letter to the families of the deceased aid workers, a National Security Council spokesperson told ABC News in a statement. Ta. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who attended the memorial service, met privately with his family and expressed his condolences, a spokesperson said.
ABC News' Fritz Farrow contributed to this report.
