World Central Kitchen, the humanitarian organization founded by chef José Andrés, recently announced the tragic loss of seven team members, including U.S.-Canadian dual national Jacob Flickinger, aged 33, due to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
The incident, which Israel’s military described as a “grave mistake,” also claimed the lives of team members from Palestine, Britain, Poland, and Australia, despite their convoy’s movements reportedly being coordinated with the Israel Defense Forces.
IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzl Halevi expressed regret over the incident, attributing it to the challenges of identifying targets at night in the complex conditions of war. This sentiment was echoed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described the event as a tragic accident inherent to wartime situations.
American Jacob Flickinger (Credits: beautifulynews)
The U.S., alongside Britain and other affected nations, has demanded a prompt and impartial investigation by Israel into the airstrikes. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of safeguarding civilian lives, including aid workers, amidst the ongoing conflict initiated by Hamas’s attack on October 7, which led to significant casualties.
The conflict has put a strain on the long-standing alliance between the U.S. and Israel, especially concerning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where health officials report over 32,000 deaths, primarily women and children, since the war’s onset.
Despite international pleas for restraint, the U.S. continues its substantial military support to Israel, including shipments of both precision-guided and conventional munitions.
American-Canadian aid worker Jacob Flickinger (Credits: Daily Mail)
Tensions have also risen over Israel’s potential ground offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza now sheltering approximately 1.5 million displaced Palestinians. While the U.S. has cautioned against the assault without a plan for civilian safety, it still supports Israel’s efforts to neutralize Hamas.
In response to the deadly airstrike, World Central Kitchen has temporarily halted its operations in Gaza, where it has distributed over 37 million meals since the conflict began.
The organization’s CEO, Erin Gore, condemned the attack as an unforgivable act against humanitarian efforts, with José Andrés calling for an end to the targeting of civilians and aid workers, urging Israel to rise above the current conduct of the war.
