In a devastating incident on Tuesday, April 2nd, World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian aid organization founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, announced the suspension of its operations in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike that killed seven of its workers.
WCK was founded in 2010 in response to the Haitian earthquake that left many in need without food or shelter. Since its founding, WCK has provided meals to areas plagued with natural disasters as well as war-torn nations. WCK has given aid to Turkey and Syria after the 2023 earthquakes, to Hawaii after the volcanic eruption in 2018, to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017, to Ukraine throughout the Ukraine-Russia War, and to those impacted in the United States by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
On Tuesday, the three branded, armored vehicles that were being used to transport aid by WCK were leaving a warehouse when it was targeted by Israeli airstrikes after coordinating the delivery of the aid with the Israeli military. All three branded vehicles are targeted in three individual airstrikes over a span of nearly 2 miles. After the first strike, the workers in the vehicles ran to the other branded aid cars for shelter, only to be hit by another airstrike. The final, remaining WCK-branded vehicle was then hit, killing 6 air workers and the Palestinian driver.
Israel has claimed that the strikes were “unintentional.”
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has called for an investigation into the strike, which he referred to as “a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people.” Despite coordination with the Israeli military, the convoy, carrying over 100 tons of food aid, was targeted as it departed from the Deir al-Balah warehouse.
The deceased workers included diverse nationalities, including Palestinian, Australian, Polish, British, and dual U.S.-Canada nationals, reflecting the global nature of WCK’s mission. Andrés, who has worked alongside the victims in various crisis zones, including Ukraine and Haiti, expressed his grief over the loss, criticizing the Israeli government for the indiscriminate killings and for using food as a weapon.
Chef Andrés said on Twitter, “The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon.
He continued, “No more innocent lives lost. Peace starts with our shared humanity. It needs to start now.”
This incident not only threatens the critical food aid delivery in the region but also sparks international concern over the safety of humanitarian workers. Israel has cut off resources such as running water and electricity to the Gaza Strip in addition to closing borders, preventing aid such as medical supplies and food from getting to those in need. Reports out of Gaza are saying that Palestinians who have survived the countless raids and airstrikes since October have little to no food, with the international community warning of a man-made famine in the Gaza Strip.
The United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, key facilitators of the maritime route that brought aid to Gaza, have paused their involvement, demanding a full investigation into the Israeli airstrikes and assurances from Israel for the protection of aid workers.
Erin Gore, CEO of WCK, said, “These are the heroes of World Central Kitchen. These 7 beautiful souls were killed by the IDF in a strike as they were returning from a full day’s mission. Their smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in our memories. And we have countless memories of them giving their best selves to the world. We are reeling from our loss. The world’s loss.”
Gore continued, saying the strike was “not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable.”
Netanyahu has vowed a “thorough inquiry” into the airstrike, emphasizing the commitment to prevent such occurrences in the future. He acknowledged the airstrikes as “a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip.”
Following the deaths of the 7 aid workers at the hands of the Israeli airstrikes, with several of them being nationals from other nations, Netanyahu said, “This happens in war.”
Hamas has condemned the attack on aid workers by the Israeli military, urging the United Nations Security Council to act against Israel’s aggression towards Palestinians and their international supporters.
U.N. Secretary General António Guterres scolded Israel over the airstrikes, acknowledging that the most recent incident has increased the number of aid workers killed in the war in the Gaza Strip to 196, with over 175 of those deaths being U.N. staff.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted demanding Israel “explain how this tragic incident happened and take immediate steps to protect aid workers and facilitate vital humanitarian operations in Gaza.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Poland, where one of the killed aid workers was from, said in a statement that they “object to the disregard for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers.”
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly condemned the strikes that killed one of their citizens as well. In a tweet, Joly said, “Canada expects full accountability for these killings, and we will convey this to the Israeli government directly. Strikes on humanitarian personnel are absolutely unacceptable.”
The tragedy underscores the peril faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones and raises pressing questions about the conduct of war and the protection of civilians and aid providers. As “investigations” proceed, the global community watches closely, hoping for accountability and measures to safeguard those delivering essential assistance to war-torn areas.
