World Central Kitchen founder chef Jose Andres says Israel targeted his aid workers 'systematically'
A person looks at a vehicle that was hit by an an Israeli air strike in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip, killing seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) on Apr 2, 2024. (File Photo: REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot)
WASHINGTON: Celebrity chef Jose Andres told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday (Apr 3) that an Israeli attack that killed seven of his food aid workers in Gaza had targeted them "systematically, car by car".
Speaking in a video interview, Andres said the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity group he founded had clear communication with the Israeli military, which he said knew his aid workers' movements.
This was not 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."
The aid workers were killed when their convoy was hit shortly after they oversaw the unloading of 100 tons of food brought to Gaza by sea. Israel's military expressed "severe sorrow" over the incident and Prime Minister Netanyahu called it unintentional.
Andres said he was supposed to be in Gaza with his team but for different reasons "wasn't able to go back again to Gaza".
