President Joe Biden expressed his deep sorrow and outrage following reports of an Israeli airstrike that tragically claimed the lives of seven dedicated humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen in Gaza. In a heartfelt statement on Tuesday, Biden praised these courageous individuals for their selflessness and referred to their untimely deaths as a true tragedy.
According to the president, Israel has made a commitment to thoroughly investigate 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 individuals affected by this incident were 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. In fact, it is part of a larger conflict that has seen a significant number of aid workers losing their lives. The high number of casualties among aid workers has made it extremely challenging to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza. Biden argues that Israel needs to do more to ensure the safety and protection of aid workers who are working tirelessly to deliver essential assistance to civilians in need.
“Yesterday’s incidents should never occur. Israel has failed to adequately protect civilians, and the United States has consistently urged them to coordinate their military actions with humanitarian efforts to minimize harm to innocent people.”
The United States is actively advocating for an immediate ceasefire, according to Biden, as it is an integral part of a hostage deal. In March, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution urging for an immediate ceasefire, with the US refraining from exercising its veto power. This vote led to Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top advisers canceling a scheduled visit to Washington, further straining the relationship between these long-standing allies during Israel’s military operations in the Gaza strip.
In addition, Biden expressed his condolences and ongoing support to chef José Andrés, acknowledging his unwavering dedication and heroic endeavors in providing food to people in need worldwide. Andrés, the visionary behind WCK, a non-profit organization committed to offering fresh meals during humanitarian, climate, and community emergencies, shared his profound sorrow and grief for the affected families, friends, and the entire WCK community on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“The Israeli government must put an end to this senseless violence,” his post urged. “They should cease their restrictions on humanitarian aid, refrain from targeting innocent civilians and aid workers, and stop weaponizing food. We can no longer afford to lose innocent lives. True peace can only be achieved by recognizing our shared humanity. The time for action is now.”
In a guest essay published in the New York Times on Wednesday, Andrés restated his sentiments. He emphasized that the deaths of the seven aid workers were a direct consequence of Israeli policy in the ongoing conflict with Palestine.
Chef José Andrés expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of the seven individuals who lost their lives during a World Central Kitchen mission in Gaza. In a heartfelt statement, Andrés emphasized that these individuals represented the very best of humanity. He urged Israel to consider opening additional land routes for the transportation of crucial supplies such as food and medicine to Gaza. Andrés also questioned the sincerity of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s apology, referring to the strike as a “direct attack” on aid workers who were closely coordinating their efforts with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He further highlighted that this devastating incident was a direct consequence of a policy that severely restricted humanitarian aid, pushing it to dangerously low levels.
In a heartfelt statement, he expressed his belief that resorting to bombing every building in Gaza or starving the entire population would not lead to the successful rescue of the hostages or victory in this war.
