The interfaith program, which featured a performance by renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, included hymns and prayers from Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions, as well as readings from the Koran and the Bible.
A tearful Andres expressed 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 of the victims' home countries in the background. “They were the best of humanity,” he said. “Their example should inspire us to do better and be better.”
Those felicitated were Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha of Palestine, John Chapman of the United Kingdom, Jacob Flickinger of the United States and Canada, Lalzaumi “Zomi” Francom of Australia, and Mr. They were James Henderson, England's James Kirby, and Poland's Damian Sobol.
Flat screen televisions throughout the space displayed photos of the deceased, some smiling at the camera and some wearing WCK T-shirts. Others showed them at work. The program detailed their lives and passion for helping people, the driving force that apparently drew them to war-torn Gaza.
“The kindness they showed and the love they gave will be remembered and honored,” Rabbi Susan Shankman, senior rabbi of the Washington Hebrew Foundation, told the crowd. “They are shining examples of humanity.”
Andres, who nearly broke down in tears as she paid her respects to Francome, said Francome was “like a sister to me.” Sobol “had an unstoppable desire to help,” he said. Acknowledging that a huge number of aid workers from other organizations were also killed, Andres asked WCK staff in attendance to stand in honor.
“You are our light in the darkness,” he said, and the crowd erupted in sustained applause, a rare applause in the hallowed space.
Mr. Andres also expressed dissatisfaction with the official explanation of the attack. “We know there are many unanswered questions, including why WCK is operating in Gaza,” he said. “Even one innocent life taken is too many.”
Still, through tears, he expressed his continued dedication to the organization's mission. “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.”
Seated next to Mr. Emhoff were Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Assistant Secretary of State Julietta Valls Noyce. According to organizers, diplomats from 30 countries, including the United States and Canada, attended.
The memorial service was notable for its high-profile attendees and setting, the state funeral hall with seats for foreign leaders and American politicians, the mass of media on the upper balcony, and the attention of cameras and eyes. As you can see, this was not an everyday occurrence. The crowd below. But the deaths of memorable people were felt all over the world.
The April 1 attack on a convoy carrying seven aid workers quickly sparked international outrage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the incident was “unintentional” and that Israeli authorities were “thoroughly investigating this matter” and would “do everything in our power to prevent something like this from happening again.” ” he said.
Four days later, the Israeli military released its own findings, calling the attack on the WCK convoy a “serious violation” of policy, the result of “errors” and “in violation” of military procedures. Stated. It was announced that two officers would be dismissed and the commander would be reprimanded. There was no mention of legal action such as prosecution. In response, World Central Kitchen said the IDF “cannot credibly investigate its own failures in Gaza” and called for an investigation by an independent commission.
The killings also prompted WCK and other raiding groups to suspend their operations in Gaza as well, even as Palestinians in the region are under threat of starvation. WCK officials said they are considering whether and when to restart. Since the killing, Andres has kept a relatively low profile in public life, but in an interview with Reuters he said WCK had contacted the Israeli military about the whereabouts of aid workers and that they were “all dead.” “They were deliberately targeted non-stop.”
Mr. Andres, a Spanish immigrant to the United States, began building his restaurant empire in Washington, where he founded World Central Kitchen as a scrappy organization in 2010. Since then, it has grown to become one of the most recognized humanitarian relief forces, working alongside chefs on the ground during emergencies such as hurricanes in Houston and Puerto Rico, and wildfires in the western United States and Australia. They have fed refugees on the U.S.-Mexico border and people fleeing the war in Ukraine. His work earned him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, and he became the face of humanitarian aid with his exuberant energy and call for “longer tables, not higher walls.”
