President Joe Biden expressed deep sorrow and anger as he reacted to the devastating news of an Israeli airstrike that claimed the lives of seven dedicated humanitarian workers from the World Central Kitchen in Gaza. In a statement released on Tuesday, Biden paid tribute to these courageous individuals, describing them as brave and selfless heroes. He emphasized that their untimely demise is an immense tragedy that has deeply affected him.
According to the president, Israel has committed to conducting a comprehensive investigation into the airstrikes that targeted the aid workers’ vehicles. The workers were traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars with the WCK logo, as well as a soft skin vehicle. The affected workers hailed from Australia, Poland, United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, and Palestine.
According to Biden, this incident is not an isolated one. He states that this conflict stands out as one of the most devastating in recent history, particularly due to the high number of aid workers who have lost their lives. The lack of protection for these humanitarian workers has significantly hindered the distribution of much-needed aid to the people of Gaza. Biden emphasizes that Israel needs to take more decisive action in ensuring the safety of those attempting to deliver assistance to civilians.
“Yesterday’s events should never occur. Israel has not taken sufficient measures to safeguard innocent civilians. The United States has continually urged Israel to coordinate their military actions against Hamas with humanitarian operations, to prevent harm to non-combatants.”
According to President Biden, the United States is actively advocating for an immediate ceasefire as a component of a hostage deal. This comes after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution in March, urging for an immediate ceasefire, despite the US choosing not to exercise its veto power. Consequently, Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top advisers canceled a scheduled visit to Washington, further straining the relationship between the two longstanding allies amidst Israel’s military actions in the Gaza strip.
In addition, Biden reached out to chef José Andrés to express his heartfelt condolences and ongoing support for Andrés and his team’s unwavering and courageous endeavors in providing food to people in need worldwide. Andrés, the founder of WCK, a non-profit organization dedicated to offering fresh meals during times of humanitarian, climate, and community crises, shared his profound sadness and mourning for the families, friends, and the entire WCK community affected by the tragic incident.
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“The Israeli government must put an end to this senseless violence,” he stated in his post. “They should cease their restrictions on humanitarian aid, refrain from targeting innocent civilians and aid workers, and abandon the use of food as a weapon. We cannot afford to lose any more innocent lives. True peace can only be achieved when we recognize our shared humanity. The time for action is now.”
In a guest essay published in the New York Times on Wednesday, Andrés expressed his sentiments once again. He directly attributed the deaths of the seven aid workers to Israeli policy in its conflict with Palestine.
Chef José Andrés expressed deep sorrow and sympathy for the seven individuals who tragically lost their lives during a World Central Kitchen mission in Gaza. In a heartfelt message, he described them as exemplary individuals, embodying the very best of humanity.
Andrés further emphasized the importance of providing increased access for food and medicine to Gaza, urging Israel to open more land routes. He also questioned the sincerity of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s apology for the strike, referring to it as a “direct attack” on aid workers who had been coordinating their movements with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Andrés attributed the incident to a policy that had severely restricted humanitarian aid, exacerbating an already dire situation.
“You cannot achieve the goal of rescuing the hostages by bombing every building in Gaza. Nor can you attain victory in this war by subjecting an entire population to starvation,” he expressed.
