On April 1, an Israeli drone attack struck a convoy carrying World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers in the Gaza Strip, killing all seven people in three vehicles. WCK and other aid organizations suspended food aid operations after the attack. On Sunday, WCK announced that it would resume food aid in Gaza on Monday.
Until his death last month, WCK had provided 62 percent of all international nongovernmental organization aid and distributed more than 43 million meals in the Gaza Strip, said World Central Kitchen founder and celebrity chef José Andre. Les told Barbara Raddatz on ABC's “This Week” in early April.
On Thursday, Andres led a moving memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral. The Washington Post reported that Andres displayed a sadness that was completely different from his usual cheerful personality as he read out the names of the dead and recalled their stories, with the national flag representing the victims' home countries in the background. Ta. “They were the best of humanity,” he said. “Their example should inspire us to do better and be better.”
The seven aid workers are Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha from Palestine, John Chapman from the UK, Jacob Flickinger from the US and Canada, Lalzaumi “Zomi” Francom from Australia, and John Chapman from the UK. They were James Henderson, England's James Kirby, and Poland's Damian Sobol. Andres also confirmed that 200 aid workers from other organizations were also killed.
Within four days of the attack, the Israeli military apologized, saying it had mishandled vital information and violated military rules of engagement. Two police officers were dismissed and the remaining three received disciplinary action.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces expressed “deep sadness” over the deaths of the seven aid workers and offered its condolences to their families and the World Central Kitchen organization. “We believe that the critical humanitarian work of international aid agencies is of paramount importance, and we remain committed to coordinating and supporting them, while ensuring their safety and protecting lives.”
According to the United Nations, about 200 aid workers, most of them Palestinians, were killed in Gaza between October 7 and the attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy. A New York Times visual investigation found that well before the World Central Kitchen attack, six aid organizations in the Gaza Strip were exposed to Israeli artillery fire, despite sharing locations with Israeli forces. It has been found.
During last week's memorial service (which can be viewed here), Andres hinted at Sunday's announcement that food aid could be resumed. “We take risks because we want to change the world,” he said. “Food is a universal human right, and feeding each other, cooking and eating together is what makes us human. A plate of food is a plate of hope, a plate of hope. It's a message that someone cares about you.”
In a press release on Sunday, WCK chief executive Erin Gore said: “The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. We are focused on restarting operations with the same energy and dignity and feeding as many people as possible.”
The situation in Gaza is dire, with more than 1 million people facing hunger or even starvation. Gore called it “the most life-saving mission in the organization's 14-year history.” WCK has 276 trucks ready to enter through the Rafah crossing, as well as trucks ready to come through Jordan, and is exploring options to deliver aid by sea and air. WCK is also building a third high-production kitchen in addition to the current 68 community kitchens it already has in Gaza.
WCK's CEO concluded the press release with the following words:
“We have a decision to make: stop eating altogether amid the worst hunger crisis in history, or continue eating while our donors, aid workers and civilians are being threatened and killed. That's it.''
“These are the most difficult conversations to have, and we considered all viewpoints in our deliberations,” Gore added. “Ultimately, we decided that we must continue to feed and continue our mission of feeding people in the most difficult of times. Wherever you are, we will go there.”
