Celebrity Chef Jose Andres paid tribute to seven aid workers killed by Israeli forces in Gaza during a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral. The service was attended by hundreds and filled with grief and unanswered questions about the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel mistakenly killed the seven workers from Andres’ charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) in an airstrike earlier in the month. The incident led to global condemnation and President Joe Biden’s call for easier aid access to Gaza.
Andres described the attack as targeted and systematic, with the Israeli forces going car by car to kill the workers. At the memorial service, he emotionally eulogized each of the workers, praising them for risking everything to feed people in Gaza who they didn’t even know.
He emphasized that the workers were the best of humanity and their examples should inspire everyone to be better. Andres stressed the need for a thorough investigation into the Israeli forces’ actions against the WCK workers, rejecting the official explanation.
The service included readings and prayers from Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions, as well as a musical tribute by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Over 500 people attended, including families of the victims, WCK staff, U.S. officials, and diplomats from more than 30 countries.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, represented the White House at the service, while President Biden was traveling in New York. The event was a poignant reminder of the human toll of conflict and the ongoing need for peace and justice.