World Central Kitchen aid workers honored during memorial
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A solemn memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral honored seven World Central Kitchen aid workers killed earlier this month by Israeli airstrikes.
“Saif, John, Jacob, Zomi, Jim, James and Damian,” World Central Kitchen Founder Chef José Andrés said.
Andrés says his team risked everything to feed people they didn’t know.
“They were the best of humanity,” Andrés said.
Israeli Defense Forces struck World Central Kitchen vehicles April 1, killing the workers. They were driving through a part of Gaza that was supposed to be off-limits for attacks.
“The seven souls we mourn today were there so that hungry people could eat,” Andrés said.
The workers came from across the globe: Palestine, Australia, Poland, three from the U.K. and one dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.
Israeli military officials said the strikes were a mistake and apologized, firing two officers and reprimanding three others.
Andrés says that’s not good enough.
“We still obviously demand an investigation into the actions of the IDF against our team,” Andrés said.
President Joe Biden said he was “outraged” by the workers’ deaths. Some White House officials attended the memorial in a show of support.
The service included prayer and religious readings from Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders.
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma also performed.
Andrés said World Central Kitchen’s mission to feed the hungry will continue.
“Food can never be a weapon of war. Humanitarians can never be targets.”
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