The charity World Central Kitchen, founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, has stopped its operations in Gaza following the deaths of seven aid workers in an airstrike. President Joe Biden personally called Andrés to offer his condolences on the tragic incident. Biden expressed his deep sadness at the loss of the aid workers and assured Andrés that he stands with the World Central Kitchen family during this difficult time.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the airstrike was unintentional and described it as “tragic.” The Israeli military has committed to conducting an independent investigation into the incident. The United States expressed outrage over the airstrikes and expects a swift and comprehensive investigation by the Israeli military. The findings of the investigation must be made public, and appropriate accountability must be ensured.
The seven aid workers were killed when their convoy was struck as they were leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah after unloading over 100 tons of food aid in Gaza. The World Central Kitchen had coordinated their movements with the Israeli military, and the workers were traveling in marked armored cars.
Michael Collins, who covers the White House for X (formerly Twitter), reported on this story and will provide updates on this developing situation as more information becomes available.
