José Andrés, a well-known celebrity chef and humanitarian, shared heartbreaking news on Twitter that several members of his World Central Kitchen nonprofit organization were killed in Gaza on Monday. He expressed his sorrow for the families and friends of the lost members and mourned the tragic loss of his colleagues. The Associated Press reported that the individuals were killed in what appeared to be an Israeli airstrike, which took the lives of four international aid workers and their Palestinian driver.
In response to the tragedy, World Central Kitchen released a statement on social media condemning the deaths of their team members and emphasizing that humanitarian aid workers and civilians should never be targeted. Established in 2010 by Andrés, World Central Kitchen is dedicated to cooking and delivering meals to people affected by social and environmental disasters. The organization and its founder were featured in the 2022 National Geographic documentary “We Feed People,” directed by Ron Howard.
José Andrés emphasized the importance of food as a basic necessity for humans, particularly during emergencies and crises, in an interview with Variety. He spoke about how food can bring people together during difficult times, providing comfort and hope. The Gaza region has been facing ongoing violence and bombings since October 7, triggered by terrorist attacks and hostage-taking by Hamas, leading to a full-scale war with Israel. This tragic incident serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones around the world.
