World Central Kitchen has responded to the findings of the IDF probe into the killing of seven of its aid workers, acknowledging Israel’s military had taken steps forward, but insisting apologies are not enough for the victims’ families. The charity is demanding an independent commission to investigate the killings, stating that the IDF cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza. Founder José Andrés stressed the importance of protecting all civilians in Gaza and ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers.
The charity expressed disappointment that the IDF’s apologies for the killing of their colleagues offer little comfort to the families affected. While the IDF has acknowledged its responsibility and committed to reforms, World Central Kitchen highlighted that deadly force had been deployed without regard to protocols, chain of command, and rules of engagement. The organization’s personnel convoy, which carried no weapons and posed no threat, was fired upon without cause according to the IDF’s own video footage. The charity warned that without systemic change, there will continue to be military failures and more grieving families.
World Central Kitchen emphasized the root cause of the unjustified rocket fire on their convoy was the severe lack of food in Gaza and called on Israel to increase the volume of food and medicine traveling by land in order to support humanitarian aid efforts. The charity stressed that food is a universal human right and continued to demand the release of all hostages while suspending their operations. They advocated for Palestinian families to have the same universal right to access food, water, and medicine, highlighting the shared values between Israelis and Palestinians.
The charity called for concrete steps to be taken by Israel to ensure the safety of humanitarian aid workers in the region, urging for a commitment to protect all innocent people in Gaza. Founder José Andrés insisted that avoiding further humanitarian deaths should not be the only goal, but rather all civilians need to be protected and those in hostage situations must be released. World Central Kitchen expressed pride in feeding families across Israel and reiterated the importance of upholding universal rights to food, water, and medicine for all people, regardless of nationality or background.
In response to the IDF’s acknowledgment of responsibility and commitment to disciplinary action and reforms, World Central Kitchen reiterated the need for an independent investigation into the killings of their colleagues. The charity emphasized that the IDF’s preliminary investigation revealed failures in following protocols and rules of engagement, indicating a need for systemic change to prevent future tragedies. World Central Kitchen maintained their suspension of operations in Gaza until concrete steps are taken to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and the rights of civilians to access essential resources are respected.
Throughout their statement, World Central Kitchen called for a humanitarian approach to the situation in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of protecting all innocent people and providing access to vital resources. The charity highlighted the need for a universal right to food and medicine, urging Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to address the severe lack of basic necessities in the region. World Central Kitchen reiterated their commitment to supporting families in need and advocating for the release of all hostages, while emphasizing the shared values of compassion and humanity that should guide the actions of all involved parties.
