On Wednesday, renowned chef Jose Andres, the founder of the food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), called out the Israeli military following the deaths of seven workers in one of its attacks, claiming that the group was "systematically" targeted "car by car."
Andres told Reuters that WCK, a nonprofit organization that feeds people in disaster zones, including Gaza, was transparent about its operations in the besieged strip.
Andres Accuses Israel of Systematically Targeting Aid Workers
The seven workers were killed in a convoy that was marked in Gaza after removing 100 tonnes of food aid from a barge.
"This was not just a bad luck situation where 'oops' we dropped the bomb in the wrong place," Andres said. "Even if we were not in coordination with the (Israel Defense Forces), no democratic country and no military can be targeting civilians and humanitarians."
He also disclosed to the outlet that the charity's convoy may have been the target of more than three strikes.
WCK said on Tuesday that it was stopping operations in the occupied Palestinian territory. Andres told Reuters that the charity would investigate the safety of returning to Gaza before resuming operations in the area.
The charity founder said that the US must do more to tell Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu this war needs to end now. He and President Joe Biden communicated by phone after the incident.
An administration official informed The Independent that Biden would speak to Netanyahu on Thursday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Biden expressed his "outrage and heartbreak" at the deaths of the humanitarian workers. He said that they were brave and selfless.
Israel has vowed to conduct an investigation into the incident despite the US saying it does not intend to. Biden called for "swift" action and said that the inquiry must bring accountability, and its findings must be made public.
Andres' blame on the IDF's knowledge contrasts sharply with remarks made by Netanyahu.
Netanyahu said that the military forces of the country would do everything so this would not happen again and referred to the event as an unintended strike of their forces on innocent people in the Gaza Strip.
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Michigan Congresswoman Backs Andres
Early on Wednesday, Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib supported Andres' sentiments in an Instagram post. She called the attack "fully intentional."
She claimed in the post that they bombed the convoy three times. She said that WCK gave Israel their coordinates, and they were still targeted and killed as Netanyahu wants Gaza to starve to death and use starvation as a weapon of war.
Senator Dick Durbin also expressed his concerns on Wednesday and said, "Enough."
Durbin wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the killing of the World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers makes it clear that Netanyahu cannot or will not protect the innocent people in Gaza. He noted that they need a ceasefire and release of all remaining hostages now.
