The deaths of seven volunteers from the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) in Gaza, who were targeted by Israeli strikes, have sent shockwaves through Washington. Over the past six months, almost 32,000 Palestinians have died, most of them civilians; dozens of schools have been destroyed and hospitals reduced to ashes; and around 200 employees of humanitarian missions have been killed. Yet it took this tragedy to mobilize the American media and highlight the untenable position of the Biden administration, which has stood by Israel despite the massive war crimes attributed to its ally.
The multiple nationalities represented among the victims are only one explanation. The identity of the WCK's founder, José Andrès, has even greater significance. The Spanish chef, a naturalized American citizen, occupies a unique place in the media landscape. With his humanitarian organization, he has transformed himself into an unstoppable Samaritan over the years, traveling the world to aid populations in distress. An earthquake, tornado, or flood? An epidemic, a war, or a migratory crisis? WCK deploys its resources at spectacular speed, without bureaucratic constraints, sharing its operations on social media.
While his restaurants in Washington have become essential gathering places, Andrès is also part of the political conversation. In March 2022, a few weeks after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Joe Biden traveled to Warsaw. The American president met with the chef and his teams. The two men have continued to maintain close contact. On Tuesday evening, Biden called Andrès to discuss the deaths of his volunteers in Gaza.
Concurrently, the White House issued a harsher-than-usual statement to Israel. Saying he was "outraged and heartbroken" by the deaths of the seven volunteers, the American leader asserted that this was "not a stand-alone incident," in reference to other aid workers who have been killed, and that Israel "has not done enough" to protect them and Palestinian civilians.
Despite these personal words of solidarity with Andrès, the administration has not changed its strategy. John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, is its zealous mouthpiece. Facing journalists on Tuesday and Wednesday, he maintained a cautious stance, awaiting the conclusions of the investigations promised by the Israeli authorities. He pointed out that the Israeli army had admitted its responsibility and that the deaths of the volunteers "obviously was not the intended result" of the operation, despite the multiple proven strikes that targeted their vehicles. It was a way of playing down Israeli responsibility and echoing the words of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "This happens in wartime."
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