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WASHINGTON – Chef José Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen, on Sunday questioned Israeli claims last week that the Israeli military falsely targeted a convoy of charity workers saying Hamas terrorists were inside. He told ABC News that the conflict had become “a war against humanity itself.”
The Israel Defense Forces on Friday released the results of a preliminary investigation into the airstrike that killed seven WCK personnel during an operation transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza, finding that military commanders “mistakenly considered… Stated. [Hamas] The gunmen were inside the accompanying vehicle. ”
“The military did not identify the vehicle in question as being associated with WCK,” the IDF said.
“Following misidentification by forces, forces targeted three WCK vehicles based on misclassification of the event and misidentification of vehicles with Hamas operatives inside, and the resulting strikes resulted in the indictment of seven people. More than one humanitarian aid worker has died.”
“The attack on the three vehicles was carried out in gross violation of command and IDF standard operating procedures,” it added.
Additionally, the IDF claimed it did not see the WCK logo emblazoned on the top of the truck, but Andres told ABC's Martha Raddatz that the force had no knowledge that the vehicle belonged to WCK. He said he was reluctant to believe the IDF's claims that it had done so.
“We can't bring Hamas into the problem every time something happens,” Andres said, rejecting claims that it was a mistake. “I think the IDF knows better than anyone that we can be a better military.”
Still, he said he was willing to review footage of the strike to see if the allegations were true.
“Of course I want to see high-quality video, high-quality images. I'm sure those logos were probably shown,” he said. “They were white cars. Their logos are so colorful. Even on a dark night, I guarantee you can see them.”
“Right now, there are too many incidents where humanitarian workers die, and many civilians (women, children) just trying to get close to places that give them flour and bread,” he added.
Exactly six months after Hamas brutally murdered more than 1,000 Israeli civilians on October 7, Mr. Andres has announced that the strikes affecting civilians and aid workers in the Gaza Strip “It's been going on for far too long,” he said.
“This is no longer about the seven men and women of the World Central Kitchen,” he said. “It's been six months since we've been targeting anything that looks like it. [like Hamas.]”
“This doesn't seem to be a war on terror, it doesn't seem to be a war to protect Israel. Really, at this point, it seems like it's a war against humanity itself,” he added.
