Celebrity chef José Andrés calls for cease-fire and more aid to Gaza
As a second ship prepared to depart for Gaza with desperately needed aid, celebrity chef José Andrés, founder of the food charity sending the vessels, called for a cease-fire and urged Israel to do more to prevent hunger in the region.
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Andrés emphasized the importance of ensuring that nobody in Gaza goes hungry or without food and water. He expressed his hope that his organization, World Central Kitchen, would be able to scale up its efforts to bring large quantities of food daily to Gaza, where 2.2 million people are on the brink of famine according to United Nations officials.
The first ship dispatched by World Central Kitchen, the Open Arms, recently delivered a small amount of food to Gaza, but it is just a fraction of what is needed to stave off famine. Aid groups have been pleading with Israel to allow more trucks through land crossings to sustain Gaza’s population, as only about 150 trucks are currently entering Gaza each day.
In response to the limitations at land crossings, creative solutions have been sought, including a maritime route from Cyprus to Gaza and efforts to build a temporary pier off Gaza’s coast for aid deliveries by ship. The United States is leading the construction of the temporary pier, which is expected to take six to eight weeks to complete.
Despite the challenges, World Central Kitchen has successfully delivered aid directly to Gaza by ship, with the second delivery set to bring more food and equipment to support future maritime deliveries. Andrés also issued a plea for peace, highlighting the shared humanity and love for food between the people of Israel and Gaza.
As the world watches the situation in Gaza unfold, Andrés continues to advocate for more aid and a peaceful resolution to the conflict, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all people have access to the basic necessities of life.
