José Andrés: Israel Is Conducting a ‘War Against Humanity Itself’

World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés is demanding an independent investigation into the killing of seven of its aid workers in Gaza by the Israeli Defense Force and accusing Israel of conducting “a war against humanity.”

“This doesn’t seem a war against terror. This doesn’t seem anymore a war about defending Israel,” Andrés, a renowned chef and restauranteur, said during an interview that aired Sunday on ABC’s This Week. “This really, at this point, seems it’s a war against humanity itself. That’s why, yes, I’m requesting Israel, I’m requesting Prime Minister, I’m requesting IDF that this investigation, and many others should be done right, should be done in an independent way.”

Andrés, who called the attack “unforgivable,” said he does not trust Israel’s military to conduct the investigation into its killing of its aid workers: “The perpetrator cannot be investigating himself.”

“We need more information,” he added. “We need to see better quality videos. We need to be saying what was the conversations, the radio conversation between the different officers and soldiers in charge of saying that those cars were a target because they were an imminent threat? Those weapons can only be used with very sophisticated drones. And we all know that those drones have high capabilities day and night with cameras that can see in very powerful way what’s going on.”

Drone missiles repeatedly targeted the World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy last week with three separate attacks as it traveled with food aid through Gaza at night. WCK had been one of few humanitarian organizations operating in the area where millions of Palestinians are at risk of starvation and famine because Israel has not allowed adequate aid across the border. The WCK operates on the frontlines of humanitarian, climate and community crises, providing necessary food aid and disaster relief.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, in the north of Gaza, “famine is projected to occur anytime between now and May 2024.” According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians — two thirds of them women and children — in its attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants cross the Israel border and killed more than 1,100 Israelis. Many more Palestinians are injured or suspected to be missing beneath the rubble.

WCK released a statement Friday demanding an independent investigation after the Israeli Defense Force released the results of a preliminary investigation that concluded an army unit believed that aid vehicles belonging to WCK had been commandeered by Hamas and mistook a bag for a rifle. The IDF fired two officers it said were responsible for mishandling information that led to the attack. Three other IDF leaders were reprimanded.

“We demand the creation of an independent commission to investigate the killings of our WCK colleagues,” WCK said in the statement. “The IDF cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza.”

President Joe Biden held a “tense and challenging” phone call with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu following the killings, Axios reported. The president demanded Israel take “steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.”

In a speech following the killings, Netanyahu said Israel would do everything in its power to ensure something like this never happens again, but Andrés said he remains skeptical.

“It’s a first step,” he said. “But we know that leaders of the world and politicians, they give speeches that they never follow. These declarations of intentions needs to go alongside with real change of the people with boots on the ground.”

Last year was the most deadly year in history for aid workers operating in conflict zones. At least 196 aid workers have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank from Oct. 2023 to late March 2024.

“There is no safe place left in Gaza,” said Jamie McGoldrick, a senior U.N. relief official.

“Civilians must be protected. Humanitarian organizations must be protected,” Andrés implored. “They are people that have names and last names. They are people that matter. They cannot be voiceless. They cannot be ghosts of wars that don’t make sense.”

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