World Central Kitchen, a humanitarian organization founded by Chef José Andrés, sadly announced the loss of seven of its members in an airstrike by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza.
The organization, which aims to alleviate hunger and provide meals in conflict zones, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of its members, who Andrés described as "angels" he had served alongside in various regions of need.
Andrés shared his grief and called for an end to indiscriminate killing and the use of food as a weapon in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He emphasized the importance of peace and humanity in such tragic circumstances.
The incident occurred as the WCK members were traveling in a "deconflicted zone" in marked vehicles, despite coordinating their movements with the IDF.
The convoy had just unloaded over 100 tons of humanitarian aid when it was struck.
Erin Gore, CEO of WCK, condemned the attack, stating that it not only targeted their organization but also struck at the heart of humanitarian efforts in war-torn areas.
The IDF acknowledged the deaths and promised a thorough review of the events, highlighting their efforts to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
In response to the tragedy, WCK announced a temporary halt to its operations in the region, with decisions about future work to be made soon.