WASHINGTON — Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will represent the Biden administration at a memorial service for seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers killed in Thursday's Israeli airstrike on Gaza.
The American charity run by celebrity chef Jose Andres will host an interfaith service at the Washington National Cathedral to “honor our heroes,” according to a release from the organization. It was done.
Curtis Reed, chief of staff and executive director of the White House National Security Council, is also scheduled to attend.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Syracuse, New York, for an economic event on Thursday and will be unable to attend, but will send a letter to be read, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris offered their condolences to Andres following the April 1 killing of an aid worker.
One of the seven employees, Jacob Flickinger, was a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. Other participants were from the UK, Australia and Poland, as well as a Palestinian driver. Biden publicly said he was “outraged” by their deaths.
The Israel Defense Forces has released a preliminary investigation into how its forces targeted humanitarian aid workers, calling it a “grave mistake.” The investigation found that “the incident should not have happened” and said those who authorized the strike “were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives rather than WCK personnel.”
The White House has not yet given an assessment of the report and is reviewing its findings, a U.S. official said.
WCK called for an independent investigation.
Experts say that before the strike, WCK was poised to become a key partner in helping provide and distribute aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, many of whom face imminent starvation. . Since the aid workers were killed, humanitarian organizations have withdrawn all operations from Gaza and have not said when they will resume.
Thursday's memorial service will feature a performance by famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and several religious leaders will deliver remarks.
Emhoff partnered with Andres to host an event at the White House in February focused on ending hunger and promoting healthy eating nationwide.