the World Central Kitchen founder told “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz.
In an exclusive sit-down interview with “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz, chef José Andres spoke out about the Israeli drone attack that killed seven World Central Kitchen employees. claimed to be waging a “war against humanity itself.”
The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that the April 1 airstrike in Gaza that killed aid workers was carried out after Israeli forces said they had mistaken WCK personnel in a convoy as Hamas gunmen. Israel has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and kidnapping about 250 others.
You can watch Jose Andres' full interview on ABC Sunday Morning's “This Week.”
In total, at least 1,700 people were killed and 8,700 injured in Israel, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. More than 33,000 people were killed and about 76,000 injured in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Mr. Andres objected to the IDF's findings on the convoy attack, telling Mr. Raddatz: “We can't bring Hamas into trouble every time something happens.”
“This is no longer about the seven men and women from World Central Kitchen who died in this unfortunate event. This has been happening for far too long. We continue to target anything that moves. Months have passed,” Andres said.
“This no longer appears to be a war on terror. This no longer appears to be a war to defend Israel. At this point, this truly appears to be a war against humanity itself.”
On the night of April 1st, a convoy of three WCK vehicles entered Deir al-Al-Za, in central Gaza, where aid workers were helping unload more than 100 tons of humanitarian aid that had been transported to Gaza by sea. After leaving the rose warehouse, it was attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces. According to WCK. The vehicles were spread out in various locations over about 2.5 miles, according to an ABC News analysis of footage from the scene and satellite images.
According to IDF findings released on Friday, there were three attacks on the convoy. He also said that the WCK officer who was struck by the first vehicle was struck again while moving to another vehicle in the convoy. The IDF confirmed that aid organizations had correctly coordinated actions with them in advance, but acknowledged that Israeli authorities had not provided updated information to the brigade on coordinated humanitarian operations.
“The findings show that the incident should not have happened. Those who authorized the strike were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives and not WCK personnel,” the IDF said. He called the strike “a grave mistake resulting from a grave failure.” Misidentification, poor decision making, attacks that violate standard operating procedures, etc. ”
Asked by Raddatz whether he was satisfied with the report's findings, Andres responded by saying that he had conducted a “very quick investigation,” even though he had called for a more thorough and independent investigation. I thanked the Israeli Defense Forces for their support.
“The investigation should go deeper because it's very complicated,” he said. “And I say the perpetrator cannot investigate himself.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Friday that U.S. officials are reviewing the Israeli report “very carefully” and will “discuss its conclusions with Israeli officials and the humanitarian community in the coming days.” Ta.
Based on the findings, the IDF fired two officers, suspended two commanders and disciplined three others for their roles in the attack, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari said.
“This is a tragedy, a series of terrible mistakes that should never have happened. The Israel Defense Forces take full responsibility for this unfortunate loss of life,” Hagari told reporters on Friday. he said.
