Israel slammed for World Central Kitchen deaths
Military drone operators struck three vehicles carrying workers for the much-loved food aid charity
What happened
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tuesday that Israel was behind Monday's airstrikes that killed seven aid workers with celebrity chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen. The mostly Western WCK employees and volunteers were driving in clearly marked SUVs along an approved humanitarian corridor after delivering food aid in central Gaza.
Who said what
The "targeted attack" is "unforgivable," WCK CEO Erin Gore said. Netanyahu said Israel "deeply regrets the tragic incident." Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi blamed a "mistake that followed a misidentification — at night during a war in very complex conditions." President Joe Biden said he was "outraged" by the deaths and demanded "accountability." Tragically, "this is not a stand-alone incident," he added. "Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians."
The commentary
The Gaza war "has proved exceptionally dangerous for aid workers," with least 196 killed there since Oct. 7, The New York Times said, citing United Nations figures. "It's hard not to note the contrast between Netanyahu's abject apology" here "and his apparent lack of concern for Palestinian aid worker casualties in Gaza," said Martin Indyk, the former U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
WCK and other humanitarian aid organizations are suspending operations in Gaza, "saying it was too dangerous to offer help," The Associated Press said. "Ships still laden with some 240 tons of aid" from WCK turned back to Cyprus.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June



