World Central Kitchen recently announced its decision to resume operations in Gaza with a local team of Palestinian aid workers nearly a month after the Israeli military targeted and killed seven of the organization’s workers in drone strikes on their convoy. Israeli military officials have admitted that the attack was a mistake due to communication breakdowns and violations of operating procedures. The aid group is still calling for an independent international investigation into the incident and has not received any concrete assurances that the military’s procedures have been improved. Despite this, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, prompting World Central Kitchen to restart its operations with a focus on providing food to as many people as possible.
The aid group has distributed more than 43 million meals in Gaza thus far and has trucks carrying the equivalent of nearly eight million meals waiting to enter the enclave through the Rafah crossing in the south. Plans are also in place to send trucks to Gaza through Jordan and to open a kitchen in Al-Mawasi, a village designated as a humanitarian zone by the Israeli military. However, attacks in the area continue despite the designation. The workers killed in the April 1 attack included individuals from Western nations and a Palestinian worker, all of whom were targeted by Israeli drone strikes as they traveled after unloading food aid in Rafah.
Prior to the attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy, around 200 aid workers, mostly Palestinians, had been killed in Gaza. Despite coordinating their movements with the Israeli military in advance, aid groups in Gaza had still come under fire from Israeli forces. The World Central Kitchen faced a difficult decision to either end their efforts in Gaza or continue operating despite the risks to aid workers and civilians. They ultimately chose to continue their mission of providing food during challenging times, believing it was crucial to keep feeding people who are in need.
At a memorial in Washington for the World Central Kitchen workers, founder José Andrés highlighted the sacrifice made by the workers who risked everything to feed strangers in Gaza. He emphasized that there were still many unanswered questions surrounding the attack and the need for an independent investigation into the actions of the Israeli military. Despite the tragedy, Andrés praised the dedication and selflessness of the aid workers, calling them the best of humanity for their commitment to helping those in need. The organization’s decision to resume operations in Gaza reflects their determination to continue their mission despite the challenges and risks involved.
