Founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK), José Andrés, has condemned the Israeli strikes that resulted in the deaths of seven WCK workers in Gaza, labeling them as 'unforgivable.' Andrés expressed his dissatisfaction with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) inquiry into the incident, calling for an independent investigation and demanding better evidence from the IDF.
The IDF's report, released on Friday, acknowledged the strike as a 'grave mistake,' stating that troops mistakenly targeted WCK vehicles under the belief that they were Hamas gunmen. Andrés disputed Israel's explanation that the strikes occurred at night, making it difficult to identify the vehicles, as WCK vehicles are white with a distinctive logo that should have been easily recognizable by Israel's advanced drones.
In response to the incident, the IDF is considering the distribution of thermal stickers for aid vehicles to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Andrés criticized the actions of Israel, stating that the situation transcends a war on terror or defense of the nation, characterizing it as a 'war against humanity itself.'
Andrés also called upon the United States to implement concrete measures to ensure Israel's accountability in avoiding civilian casualties and protecting aid workers. He emphasized the need for tangible consequences rather than mere warnings, referencing the recent White House advisory for Israel to improve its efforts in safeguarding civilians.
