World Central Kitchen founder chef Jose Andres says death of aid workers was ‘not just bad luck’

The Michelin hatted chef behind the World Central Kitchen charity that lost five aid workers – including an Australian – in an Israeli strike in Gaza has made a stunning new claim.

Celebrity chef Jose Andres who heads the food charity that saw seven workers including an Australian killed in Gaza while delivering aid claims the Israeli assault was no accident.

Andres, a two Michelin hatted chef and twice nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, said the Israeli military targeted his World Central Kitchen charity convoy.

He said the Israel Defence Force (IDF) knew the convoy’s declared movements and clear communications had been established prior to the convoy of three cars going out and then “systematically” being taken out.

“This was not just a bad luck situation where oops we dropped the bomb in the wrong place,” the Spanish-born US-based chef Andres said.

“This was over a 1.5, 1.8 kilometres, with a very defined humanitarian convoy that had signs in the top, in the roof, a very colourful logo that we are obviously very proud of. It’s very clear who we are and what we do.”

Celebrity chef Jose Andres, centre, says the attack on the World Central Kitchen was no accident. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

He called directly on the United States, the UK and Australia governments and intelligence agencies to conduct their own investigations in the killings and reject Israeli assertions it was an accident.

“They were targeting us in a deconflicting zone, in an area controlled by the IDF. They (knew) that it was our teams moving on that road … with three cars,” he said.

“Even if we were not in coordination with the (Israel Defense Forces), no democratic country and no military can be targeting civilians and humanitarians.”

Meanwhile, the joint Australian-US defence and intelligence base Pine Gap is trending on social media with users querying whether the facility used to monitor the Middle East had been tracking the IDF assault in Gaza at the time.

People gather around the car of the US-based aid group World Central Kitchen that was hit by an Israeli strike the previous day in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Picture: AFP

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak on Thursday local time, a US official said, in their first call since an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers in Gaza.
“I can confirm President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu will speak tomorrow,” a US official with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Thursday.

Mr Netanyahu has said the Israeli military “unintentionally” killed the aid workers in the attack in Gaza on Monday.

But Mr Biden has led a chorus of international anger, and on Tuesday he issued one of his strongest statements on Israel’s conduct since its war on Hamas started following the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Mr Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the deaths, adding: “Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen.”

AUSSIE AID WORKER’S BODY MOVED FROM GAZA

Australian aid worker Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom was among the seven aid workers killed by the IDF missile.

Her body and that of bodies of five colleagues have been taken out of Gaza to Egypt for repatriation, as Israel faced a chorus of outrage over their deaths.

The Israeli military killed seven staff of the US-based food charity World Central Kitchen on Monday in an attack that UN chief Antonio Guterres labelled “unconscionable” and “an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted”.

The dedication of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom has been praised by the grieving family of a Palestinian aid worker killed in the same strike. Picture: Twitter

The remains of the six international staff, who were killed alongside one Palestinian colleague, were taken in ambulances to the Rafah crossing to Egypt, where they were handed over to representatives of their respective countries, the security source said on condition of anonymity.

Israel’s armed forces chief Herzi Halevi called the attack a “grave mistake”, which he blamed on night-time “misidentification”, adding in a video message that “we are sorry for the unintentional harm to the members of WCK”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged the “tragic case” would be investigated “right to the end”, and President Isaac Herzog expressed his “deep sorrow and sincere apologies”.

Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom is among five employees from the World Central Kitchen killed in Gaza. Picture: Supplied

The seven deaths piled more pressure on Israel, whose war since the Hamas attack of October 7 has brought devastation and mass civilian casualties to Gaza, where the UN warns the population of 2.4 million is on the brink of famine.

US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the deaths and charged that Israel “has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians”.

Meanwhile the grieving family of the Palestinian aid worker killed has praised the Australian woman’s dedication and sent condolences to her family.

“All the family loved her,” said Ziad Abu Taha, whose 25-year-old cousin Saif Issam Abu Taha was killed in the Israeli strikes.

“She was a lady who left her home and country and came to Palestine to provide relief and humanitarian services,” he said.

The others killed have been named as Brits John Chapman, 57, James (Jim) Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47; Pole Damian Sobol, 35; and US-Canadian Jacob Flickinger, 33.

After their deaths, the charity suspended operations and a ship that had carried food aid from Cyprus to Gaza turned back to the Mediterranean island with around 240 tonnes of supplies that had not been unloaded.

The deaths piled more pressure on Israel, whose war since the Hamas attack of October 7 has brought devastation and mass civilian casualties to Gaza, where the UN warns the population of 2.4 million is on the brink of famine.

ALBO’S ‘ANGER’ IN CALL WITH ISRAELI PM

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed he has expressed Australia’s “anger and concern” over the death of an Australian aid worker in Gaza in a call to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

Melbourne aid worker Zomi Frankcom was one of seven aid workers who died after a convoy for the US-based charity World Central Kitchen was struck in an air strike in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Monday.

World Central Kitchen has announced it is pausing operations after the strike, which it said killed volunteers “from Australia, Poland, United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the US and Canada, and Palestine”.

“I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning with a phone call that was organised overnight. I expressed Australia’s anger and concern at the death of Zomi Frankcom,” Mr Albanese said on Wednesday.
Ms Frankcom was an Australian aid worker, working for the World Central Kitchen, providing support for people who are suffering from tremendous deprivation in Gaza.

“This is someone who was volunteering overseas to provide aid through this charity. This is completely unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Albanese said the Israeli Government has accepted responsibility for the air strike.

“Mr Netanyahu conveyed his condolences to the family of Zomi Frankcom and to Australia as a result of this tragedy,” the prime minister said.

He said he emphasised “the importance of full accountability and transparency” on how the tragedy could occur.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has committed to full transparency about how this tragedy could possibly have occurred,” Mr Albanese said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said unless Israel changes its course it will lose Australia’s support after expressing the “rage of the nation”.

After telling her Israeli counterpart that the deaths were “outrageous and unacceptable”, Senator Wong firmly waived assertions that the Albanese government’s emphasis on a need for restraint during the Israel-Hamas conflict had emboldened Israel’s actions.

“I am outraged by what occurred overnight, and those were the actions of the Netanyahu government and the IDF,” the minister told Today.

“Let us be clear about where responsibility lies for this, and let us not confuse issues. I have been very clear from the start. Israel should observe international humanitarian law.

“That means the protection of civilians, and that means the protection of aid workers, and that means the provision of aid into Gaza”

Penny Wong says Israel must change its course of action. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

In a video statement on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu confirmed that an IDF air strike was responsible for the deaths of Ms Frankcom and six of her colleagues. Mr Netanyahu said that Israel “deeply regrets the tragic incident”, claiming that it was “unintentional”.

Senator Wong said she expected Mr Netanyahu to “make himself available for a call” and argued that international humanitarian law still applied.

“What I’ve said to my counterparts directly, and what I have said previously publicly … that unless Israel, Mr Netanyahu, changes his course of action, Israel will continue to lose support. We say to Mr Netanyahu, you must change course,” she said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the deaths “unconscionable” and said it highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The incident brings “the number of aid workers killed in this conflict to 196 – including more than 175 members of our own UN staff,” Guterres said in a speech to the UN General Assembly.

“This is unconscionable – but it is an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted,” he said.

“It demonstrates yet again the urgent need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the expansion of humanitarian aid into Gaza – as the Security Council demanded in its resolution.”

AUSSIE AID WORKER’S FINAL PHOTO

Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom sent her family a picture of herself just hours before she was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.

Ms Frankcom died along with her colleagues in the air strike just days out from the six-month anniversary of the conflict.

The 43-year-old was working with the World Central Kitchen helping deliver food and other supplies to northern Gaza.

Ms Frankcom sent a picture of herself to her family back home in Australia before she crossed the checkpoint into Gaza.

She was wearing a helmet and appeared to have a bullet proof vest on over her clothes.

The Frankcom family said they were “reeling in shock”.

“We are deeply mourning the news that our brave and beloved Zomi has been killed doing the work she loves delivering food to the people of Gaza.

She was a kind, selfless and outstanding human being that has travelled the world helping others in their time of need. She will leave behind a legacy of compassion, bravery and love for all those in her orbit,” the family statement said.

This photo was sent by Zomi to her family before she crossed the checkpoint yesterday. Picture: Supplied by the family

TRIBUTES FLOW FOR ZOMI

World Central Kitchen board member Robert Egger said in a Facebook post: “Sending love, sorrow and solidarity to my brothers and sisters at World Central Kitchen.

“Viva Dear, Caring Zomi Frankcom and her courageous colleagues [sic].”

Swinburne University said it was shocked and saddened as the news broke of the former student’s death.

Ms Frankcom studied at Swinburne in 2017 and 2018.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of Zomi Frankcom in Gaza, a tragic and unnecessary loss of life of someone who was carrying out vital humanitarian work,” a statement read.

“The thoughts of the Swinburne community are with her family and friends at this time.

“We understand this may be a difficult time for staff and students, and remind them that support is available.”

The WCK has paid tribute to Zomi Frankcom. Picture: Twitter

Peak body for aid and humanitarian agencies, the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), said Ms Frankcom died “doing truly heroic work”.

“Our deepest and sincerest condolences go out to Zomi’s family, friends and employer,” ACFID chief executive Marc Purcell said.

“We call on the Australian Government to urge the Israeli Government to cease attacks on aid convoys and to allow for the safe land passage of humanitarian assistance.”

Friends of Ms Frankcom, who held a Bachelor of Psychological Science, shared tributes on social media, describing her as a “beautiful person”.

“There are no words I can use to tell you what a beautiful person she was. I’m so blessed to have called her a dear friend,” one person said in a post to X.

This is Zomi Frankcom from just over a week ago.

Zomi is the Australian aid worker who was just killed by Israeli forces. She was working for the @WCKitchen charity helping to feed people in Gaza.

She was killed helping people in need. Truly appalling.pic.twitter.com/5s7Yt0PabH

— JON DEE (JonDee.com) (@JonDeeOz) April 1, 2024

In a video filmed a week ago, a smiling Ms Frankcom spoke to “chef Oli” about the food being prepared, including rice and the different spices used.

“Indeed, this is the beautiful, fragrant, aromatic rice that we will be served today,” Ms Frankcom said.

Ms Frankcom worked for World Central Kitchen for five years.

On her LinkedIn page, the former St George Girls High School, Sydney, student said key attributes for the role were thriving in “stressful, fast-paced situations with positivity and patience while displaying genuine compassion for those in crisis”.

Zomi Frankcom was one of five people killed delivering food to Gaza. Picture: Twitter

Last year Ms Frankcom was sent to Marrakech, Morocco after a powerful earthquake killed thousands and left many others injured and homeless.

She led the World Central Kitchen’s response during the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales, cooking and delivering food on the ground to evacuees and emergency service crews.

“We’re down here conducting some ground assessments, as you may have seen in the news, Australia is undergoing some catastrophic bushfires at the moment,” she said in a video posted in a bushfire zone near Canberra in 2020.

World Central Kitchen Activation Manager Zomi Frankcom sharing in September last year how they was helping reach people in need with food and care after the devastating earthquake in Morocco. https://t.co/7dgD3E6MdG

— Ben Phillips (@benphillips76) April 1, 2024

Ms Frankcom previously worked for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

“We are saddened to hear about the death of our former employee Zomi Frankcom and send our condolences to her family and friends,” a CBA spokesperson said.

CONVOY DELIVERED AID TO GAZA BEFORE ATTACK

Video posted to social media shows staff showing the passports of three of the dead – British, Australian and Polish.

The workers had just crossed in from northern Gaza after helping deliver aid that had arrived hours earlier on a ship from Cyprus on a makeshift pier built by the charity, sources claimed.

The car was hit by an Israeli strike in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah just after crossing from northern Gaza, Mahmoud Thabet, a paramedic from the Palestinian Red Crescent said – a claim that has not been independently confirmed.

At the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah, an AFP correspondent saw five bodies with three foreign passports lying nearby.

A bloodstained Australian passport was found alongside one of the bodies.

The WCK’s founder Jose Andres confirmed the loss of their aid workers on X.

“Today @WCKitchen lost several of our sisters and brothers in an IDF air strike in Gaza. I am heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family. These are people … angels … I served alongside in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, Bahamas, Indonesia. They are not faceless … they are not nameless,” he said.

Mr Andres continued: “The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon. No more innocent lives lost. Peace starts with our shared humanity. It needs to start now.”

Zomi Frankcom working with the World Central Kitchen. Picture: Twitter

The WCK worked with the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus to open a corridor for the Open Arms ship to deliver food to Gaza.
The group has collected 500 tonnes of food, currently stationed in Cyprus, including rice, flour, canned vegetables, protein and legumes, according to CBS News.

They named their mission Operation Safeena, which means boat or vessel in Arabic, a representative for WCK told the outlet.

Since Hamas’s October 7 attack, Gaza has been under a near-complete blockade, with the United Nations accusing Israel of preventing deliveries of humanitarian aid urgently needed by 2.4 million Palestinians.
UN agencies have warned repeatedly that northern Gaza is on the verge of famine, calling the situation a man-made crisis because aid lorries are backed up on the Egypt-Gaza border awaiting long checks by Israeli officials.

– with NewsWire and AFP

Originally published as World Central Kitchen founder chef Jose Andres says death of aid workers was ‘not just bad luck’