Chef Jose Andres’s humanitarian organization, World Central Kitchen, has been providing emergency food aid to areas in need for nearly fifteen years.
On Monday, World Central Kitchen workers were providing food to people in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war when seven members were struck and killed in an airstrike by the Israel Defense Forces. Andres, who has been well-connected with household name Democrats like former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and first lady Jill Biden, condemned the attacks on his apolitical organization in an op-ed published by the New York Times.
“From Day 1, we have fed Israelis as well as Palestinians. Across Israel, we have served more than 1.75 million hot meals. We have fed families displaced by Hezbollah rockets in the north. We have fed grieving families from the south,” Andrés said.
The World Central Kitchen began delivering food aid in the region in November. Last month, President Joe Biden announced he would roll out a port on the sea in order to increase access to aid. At that time, the European Commission announced that a ship leaving Cyprus with food aid from the World Central Kitchen would head to Gaza.
He said his organization was in contact with the IDF about their whereabouts in the Gaza Strip.
“We have communicated extensively with Israeli military and civilian officials. At the same time, we have worked closely with community leaders in Gaza, as well as Arab nations in the region,” adding, “That’s how we served more than 43 million meals in Gaza, preparing hot food in 68 community kitchens where Palestinians are feeding Palestinians.”
In response to the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare apology on behalf of the IDF, saying they “deeply regret the attacks.” World Central Kitchen said it has suspended its operations in Gaza as a result of the attacks.
Andres’s organization began feeding people after the deadly earthquake in Haiti in 2010. In 2022, World Central Kitchen started operations in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, the first time the organization went into a war zone.
Andrés’ restaurant group has many popular restaurants in Washington, D.C. In 2015, he was awarded a National Humanities Medal from former President Barack Obama, and he’s been nominated by Pelosi for a Nobel Peace Prize.
The attack on the well-respected chef’s organization had ripple effects on Democrats in Washington, who were already pushing for the Biden administration to better address the unfolding humanitarian crisis on the Gaza strip.
“These workers were trying to feed starving people.The challenge of getting assistance into Gaza is already overwhelming — aid workers from @WCKitchen @UN & others shouldn’t face death when distributing it. ENOUGH!” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said on X. He has been one of the most outspoken senators about providing aid to Gaza.
“7 brave aid workers w/ @WCKitchen were killed by an Israeli airstrike today while trying to feed starving people in Gaza. Netanyahu called it an accident,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said on X. “Israel has killed more than 200 aid workers in 6 months. That’s not an accident. No more aid for Netanyahu’s war machine.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been traveling across the region for months to negotiate a solution to the conflict, condemned the attacks as well.
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“These people are heroes, they run into the fire, not away from it,” Blinken said. “We shouldn’t have a situation where people who are simply trying to help their fellow human beings are themselves at grave risk,” adding, “Nothing can justify such a tragedy.”
“It is not a sign of weakness to feed strangers; it is a sign of strength,” Andres concluded in his op-ed. “The people of Israel need to remember, at this darkest hour, what strength truly looks like.”