World Central Kitchen Organization logo (Source: websites)
On April 2, 2024, Israel targeted a World Central Kitchen convoy in the Gaza Strip. This attack led to the death of seven aid workers of Western nationalities: (Poland, Britain, Spain, Australia, the United States, and Canada).
Although Israel's targeting of international relief and aid workers is not the first of its kind, this incident raised serious questions about the reality of Western positions regarding the genocide crimes against the residents of the Gaza Strip.
Western positions in general were not as serious as this incident or other tragic incidents. It also revealed that there is no real pressure against Israel to prevent the greatest crimes of the era against humanity in Gaza, and most of what Western countries have done are statements that have no practical value. If the attitude of Western countries towards heinous crimes against the civilian population and their civilian objects was often dull and weak, then why is it so now even though the victims are now Westerners?
What is World Central Kitchen?
World Central Kitchen is a non-profit, non-governmental, civic charitable organization based in the United States of America. The organization works to distribute food and food aid to afflicted people around the world. It was founded by Spanish-American chef José Andrés in 2010 after the devastating Haiti earthquake, along with his wife Patricia.
The organization, through a specialized team, responds to disasters and provides aid in areas exposed to natural disasters or areas of conflict and war. In Gaza, the organization has opened more than 60 community kitchens and provided more than 37 million meals to those in need.
If the attitude of Western countries towards the heinous crimes against the civilian population and their civilian objects in Gaza was often lackluster and weak, why is it so now, even though the victims are now Westerners?
Was the killing intentional or accidental?
According to relevant data and reports, it was reported at 10:43 pm Gaza time that a car was subjected to Israeli bombing on Al-Rashid Street in Deir Al-Balah, and that there were casualties. It turned out that the bombing targeted 3 cars belonging to the World Central Kitchen Organization, including two armored cars and a third unarmored car. The bombing resulted in the killing of 7 relief team employees, holding multiple foreign nationalities, including the Palestinian driver. According to video reports, there are signs and logos of the targeted organization on the roofs and windshields of the cars. The organization also coordinates with the occupation army on a regular basis.
In his first statement after his surgery, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: Israeli army forces “unintentionally” injured innocent people in Gaza, and that Israel will open an investigation into the matter.
“Unintentional”: How so?
Exact coordination to give moving and staying coordinates at least twice.
Passing through a de-escalation zone.
One of the two cars was targeted twice.
Although the Israeli position was not surprising, as is the case in many precedents, and although sober positions considered that the targeting was intentional, as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said: Israel “deliberately” killed the kitchen employees. Global Central Bank, but Western positions were weak and hesitant.
Summary of Western positions towards the crime of targeting international aid workers:
Although the data indicate that the killing incident was intentional, based on careful analysis based on evidence and the many historical precedents of the occupation, Western positions have often been characterized by weakness and fragility regarding a serious incident that targeted international relief workers carrying out a humanitarian mission and enjoying international protection.
Most Western positions expressed a sense of sadness and anger over this incident, and called for non-aggression against relief workers and the need to protect them. They also requested the opening of an investigation into the incident, and called for the need to respect international humanitarian law. No Western country, including the countries that Victims belong to it, actual measures or real pressure on Israel. It is clear that Western countries hope that the victims will be buried quickly so that this incident passes quietly.
Some Western positions:
Britain summoned the Israeli ambassador over the incident.
The US President said: Israel is not doing enough to protect civilians, without neglecting Israel's right to defend itself.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on the X platform: “I condemn the attack and demand an investigation.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese "expressed Australia's anger and concern over the killing of aid workers."
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie called for a full investigation into the killing of aid workers in the Gaza Strip, including a Canadian citizen.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: The Israeli air strike, which led to the death of 7 workers, including a Polish citizen, put Warsaw’s solidarity with Tel Aviv to a difficult test. Poland summoned the Israeli ambassador to reprimand him. She also demanded compensation.
Do Western countries want to open a serious investigation by an independent international body?
The targeting of international relief workers comes in the context of the continued systematic crimes and violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli occupation. This crime, despite its heinous nature, is a very small part of the horrific crimes against the residents of the Gaza Strip.
The targeting of international aid workers belies Israel's claim that it considers UNRWA to be a partner in "Palestinian terrorism" and that it will allow other international organizations to operate in the Gaza Strip.
So why are you deliberately targeting this organization? Isn't the goal to perpetuate the crime of starvation and war of extermination? Then what about the killing of more than 170 UN aid workers?
The Western consensus on the necessity of opening an investigation into the incident, without specifying what the investigation will be, or who will open the investigation, raises many questions. Is it Israel accused of premeditated murder or an independent party, and who is this party? Why did Western countries, for example, not request the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into the incident?
The whole matter indicates Western involvement, directly or indirectly, in genocide crimes against the civilian population and their civilian objects, and that any serious and effective investigation by any reputable party into this incident will open the door wide to crimes more serious than this foreseeable crime.
The moral crisis that Western countries are experiencing regarding the genocide crimes in Gaza is deepening day after day, and they are called upon today and tomorrow to take clear, decisive and quick positions before it is too late. The rules of international law upon which the world settled after World War II are collapsing one after another.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.