Chef and philanthropist José Andrés strongly condemns the Israeli attacks in Gaza, which have resulted in the tragic deaths of innocent civilians. He goes as far as to label these attacks as a continuous “crime against humanity.” In particular, Andrés highlights the devastating loss of seven volunteers from his World Central Kitchen aid convoy, emphasizing the urgent need for action and justice in this situation.
In an interview aired on ABC’s “This Week,” Andrés expressed frustration over the prolonged occurrence of targeting anything that appears to be in motion. He stated, “It has been happening for an extended period of six months.”
“This no longer appears to be a battle against terrorism. It no longer seems to be solely about protecting Israel. In fact, at this stage, it feels like a war against the very essence of humanity,” Andrés expressed with visible emotion in his voice. The renowned chef’s heartfelt words were accompanied by tears as he spoke during the interview.
Last week, during their departure from the Deir al-Balah warehouse, the Israeli airstrike tragically claimed the lives of the aid workers. The convoy, marked with the World Central Kitchen logo, had been in close coordination with the Israeli military and was traveling in armored cars.
Israel admitted that the attack was a serious error and acknowledged that the military had mistakenly identified a World Central Kitchen worker as a member of Hamas. As a result, two officers were dismissed from their positions for their involvement in the incident.
During his interview with ABC News, Andrés rejected Israel’s explanation, emphasizing that it is not appropriate to constantly attribute every incident to Hamas.
Andrés was interviewed on the six-month anniversary of Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which marked the beginning of the war in Gaza.
The United States is exerting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government due to the increasing number of civilian deaths in Gaza. There have been suggestions from officials to consider cutting off aid to Israel as a means to facilitate a cease-fire.
President Joe Biden expressed his outrage over the deaths at World Central Kitchen during his conversation with Andrés last week. He made it clear that U.S. support in the Gaza war is contingent upon taking “immediate” measures to safeguard both civilians and aid workers.
“They were brave and selfless, providing food to hungry civilians in the midst of a war,” stated Biden. He expressed his deep sadness over their deaths, emphasizing that it was truly a tragic event.
During his ABC interview, Andrés expressed his profound emotions towards the attack, stating that it is an unforgivable act that will leave a lasting impact on him for the rest of his life.