Celebrity chef Jose Andres laid bare the harrowing events surrounding the Israeli attack that claimed the lives of seven of his food aid workers in Gaza.
However, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, Nir Barkat, has said that Andres’ claim that the attack on the aid worker was deliberate is “nonsense,” reiterating that the strike was an accident.
Andres, speaking in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, expressed profound emotions as he accused the Israeli military of targeting his team “systematically, car by car.”
The World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder revealed that his charity group had established clear communication channels with the Israeli military, implying that the IDF was well aware of his aid workers’ movements.
“This was not just a bad luck situation where ‘oops’ we dropped the bomb in the wrong place,” Andres emphasized. “This was over a 1.5, 1.8 kilometres, with a very defined humanitarian convoy,” he asserted, highlighting the distinct markings and signage of the convoy.
Andres didn’t mince words when he demanded investigations into the incident by the U.S. government and the home countries of the aid workers. He underscored the meticulous planning of the convoy’s route, which traversed through an area controlled by the IDF. “They were targeting us in a deconflicting zone, in an area controlled by IDF,” Andres lamented.
The tragic incident occurred shortly after the aid workers oversaw the unloading of 100 tons of food brought to Gaza by sea. Although Israel’s military expressed “severe sorrow” over the incident and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it unintentional, Andres vehemently rejected assertions that the strike was not deliberate. “Even if we were not in coordination with the (Israel Defence Forces), no democratic country and no military can be targeting civilians and humanitarians,” he stressed.
Furthermore, Andres criticized the U.S. government’s stance on the conflict, urging President Joe Biden to do more to end the war. He questioned the paradoxical nature of supplying aid to Gaza while also arming Israel, highlighting the complexities of the situation.
In response to Andres’ allegations, Israeli cabinet minister Nir Barkat denied claims of deliberate targeting, dismissing them as “nonsense.”
Barkat said, “That’s nonsense, I’m sorry… With all due respect there’s no way in the world that Israel would target people that come to give people aid.”
Barkat expressed Israel’s regret over the deaths of the aid workers but attributed them to the unfortunate reality of war as he said, “unfortunately, in wars friendly fire happens”.
Despite assertions from Israeli officials, Jose Andres remains resolute in his demand for accountability and justice for the slain aid workers, as the international community closely monitors developments in the aftermath of this tragic event.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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