World Central Kitchen Chief Rejects Israeli Commander's Claims Over Fatal Gaza Strike

World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder José Andrés has publicly condemned an Israeli military commander who defended the April 2024 drone strike that killed seven aid workers in Gaza, including Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom. The response follows an interview in which Israeli Colonel Nochi Mendel, who ordered the attack, stated he was not sorry for his actions and alleged that WCK had links to Hamas, claims the humanitarian group has dismissed as false and outrageous.

In a video published on social media platform X, Andrés stated there was never an excuse for killing humanitarian workers and renewed demands for an independent investigation into the incident. The April 1, 2024 strike targeted a three-car armoured convoy clearly marked with WCK logos while travelling through a designated humanitarian zone. An Israeli drone fired three missiles in succession, killing Frankcom and six of her colleagues despite prior coordination with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Military Findings and Legal Action

Colonel Mendel was dismissed from his role as chief of staff for the Nahal infantry brigade following the incident. While two commanders, including Mendel, were stripped of their ranks and senior officers received reprimands, the IDF announced on August 19 that it would not pursue a criminal investigation or take further disciplinary measures. The IDF cited serious failures and misidentification of the convoy's occupants as Hamas operatives, but concluded no criminal charges were warranted.

Both WCK and Frankcom's family expressed deep disappointment with the decision not to launch a criminal prosecution. Andrés reiterated that the IDF possessed real-time information regarding the team's movements, identities, and unarmed status. An Australian review conducted by Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin in August 2024 previously determined the fatal strike resulted from confirmation bias, the presence of nearby armed security, and a failure within the IDF to properly communicate the approved movement plan.