World Central Kitchen, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, has announced that it will resume operations in Gaza on Monday, almost one month after seven of its aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the enclave. The organization had suspended operations in Gaza for four weeks following the attack on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of aid workers from various countries, including a Palestinian, an Australian, a Polish citizen, and individuals from the U.S. and the U.K. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the country’s forces had “unintentionally hit innocent people” in Gaza, with the IDF taking full responsibility for mistaking the aid workers for Hamas gunmen.
Prior to halting operations, World Central Kitchen had distributed over 43 million meals in Gaza, accounting for 62% of all international NGO aid in the region. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, prompting the organization to restart its operations with a focus on feeding as many people as possible. With 276 trucks carrying nearly 8 million meals ready to cross into Gaza via Rafah, WCK is also exploring food delivery options with the help of other humanitarian organizations such as Open Arms from Spain and the United Arab Emirates. The organization is opening a new “high production kitchen” in Gaza named Damian’s Kitchen after a kitchen builder who was killed in the April 1 attack.
World Central Kitchen is also calling for an impartial and international investigation into the Israeli attack that killed its aid workers. The organization had coordinated its movements with the Israeli military and was traveling in armored vehicles branded with the WCK logo when the attack occurred. While the IDF has taken responsibility for the incident and claimed to have changed its rules of operations, WCK is seeking answers and advocating for better protection of NGO workers serving in Gaza. Despite the risks, WCK’s chief executive officer Erin Gore emphasized the importance of continuing their mission to provide food to people in need during challenging times, stating that the organization had considered all perspectives before deciding to resume operations.
As part of its efforts to address the hunger crisis in Gaza, World Central Kitchen is expanding its operations and opening a new high-production kitchen named Damian’s Kitchen in Mawasi. This kitchen will complement the organization’s existing network of 68 community kitchens in Gaza, including two other high-production kitchens in Rafah and Deir al Balah. WCK is committed to feeding as many people as possible and is ready to send its trucks loaded with meals into Gaza via different routes, including from Jordan. The organization’s determination to continue its humanitarian work in Gaza reflects its dedication to serving vulnerable populations in times of crisis despite the challenges and risks involved.
The devastating attack on World Central Kitchen’s aid workers in Gaza has underscored the dangers faced by humanitarian organizations operating in conflict zones. The incident has prompted calls for accountability and improved protection measures to safeguard the lives of aid workers and civilians. WCK’s decision to resume its operations in Gaza demonstrates its unwavering commitment to providing food assistance to those in need, even amidst ongoing conflict and risks to its personnel. By restarting its operations and expanding its reach in Gaza, the organization aims to address the pressing humanitarian needs in the region and continue its mission of feeding vulnerable populations during challenging times.
