This week the world was shocked and angered by an Israeli airstrike on a humanitarian relief effort by World Central Kitchen operating inside Gaza, killing all seven workers, the majority of whom were foreigners.[1] WCK’s work in an active war zone has been to feed over one million Palestinians displaced and suffering under the extreme conditions of siege that has created an escalating humanitarian crisis.
Once again, we were vividly reminded that in war, no one is safe – including the helpers.
Who are the helpers? They are first-responders, humanitarian aid workers, negotiators, and journalists. They wear different vests and badges, come from around the world, speak other languages, but all have one goal in mind: to help the suffering.
War always reveals humanity’s most grotesque and evil capabilities – but it does not represent who we truly are.
The generosity and resiliency of World Central Kitchen’s founder chef José Andrés, their staff, volunteers, and donors has been welcomed and admired by the global community. From Haiti to Ukraine, Israel, and now Gaza, no group of people suffering from a natural disaster or war is outside of their intent or reach to feed hot meals. In a passionate statement following the blatant airstrike against his staff members, Andrés articulates what every person knows and experiences when they share a meal with family and friends – food serves “as a powerful statement of humanity and hospitality,” and “is not a weapon of war.”[2]
According to The New York Times, at least 196 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war in October 2023.[3] This is a mere small number compared to the over 30,000 who have been killed to date, many of whom are innocent women and children. The aid workers include first responders, healthcare professionals, coordinators, distributors, and journalists. The United Nations reports 179 of their own staff members have been killed inside Gaza while actively attempting to meet the dire needs of 1.7 million displaced people.[4]
In our darkest moments, hope remains alive because the helpers will continue showing up in the most difficult of situations.
In war – as it’s always been – rules and international laws seem to apply only when it’s convenient. Respect for human decency toward innocent citizens is rarely acknowledged early in a conflict, and sometimes never at all. Or worse, in the case of Hamas’s abhorrent attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, innocent citizens become the intended victims.
Every act of war and violence is, in fact, the very worst expression of our humanity.
Win or lose, war always reveals humanity’s most grotesque and evil capabilities – but it does not represent who we truly are. Proof can be found in the lives and activities of the WCK aid workers killed this week in highly specialized and targeted missile strikes. A Palestinian, a Canadian-American, Australian, along with British and Polish citizens teamed up together and gave their lives in a non-violent mission grounded in hope and goodness.
Their brave example of righteousness is imprinted in the consciousness and hearts of each and every one of us. Instead of participating in war and violence, they delivered food, water, and life. Instead of stoking hate and division, they were united by compassion and love. Instead of willful disregard and apathy toward the plight of others, they were motivated to collaborate and take meaningful action to help suffering strangers in a far away place.
In war and tragedy, the helpers remind us who we truly are.
From aid workers to first responders, medics, physicians, cooks, construction workers, and documentarians on the ground, the various roles people play that seek to serve the whole of society are necessary for restoring hope and peace in the world. Without our God-given impulse for compassion, curiosity, and creativity to solve immense and complex problems, humanity could not have survived to this point in our existence. We are, after all, astonishingly resilient and filled with tremendous potential for growth in our awareness, love, and emotional maturity.
Moreover, we are also people of grace – even when forgiveness and mercy seem unfathomable. In both peacetime and wartime, the best in each of us can and will show up when others will be disillusioned into expressing their worst. In our darkest moments, hope remains alive because the helpers will continue showing up in the most difficult of situations.
To prevent a world from succumbing to endless cycles of hurt, we must rediscover the helper that lives in each and every one of us.
The wars in Gaza and Ukraine must come to an end. Peace must courageously be pursued. War must be discouraged, defunded, and seen as a detestable means to an unnecessary end. Faith, hope, and love, for ourselves and our neighbors must be our shared core values in order to push back our propensity of fear, desperation, and hate.
To prevent a world from succumbing to endless cycles of hurt, we must rediscover the helper that lives in each and every one of us.
When we help, we choose life and hope for ourselves and the world.
When we help, we rediscover our purpose and why we got to where we are today.
When we help, we see humanity’s greatest potential for progress still exists within each of us.
When we help, we learn that every life is worth protecting, restoring, and liberating.
When we help, we expand our awareness to our shared humanity and purpose for living – to continuously improve our lives and the world we share together.
[1] https://www.npr.org/2024/04/03/1242489621/world-central-kitchen-aid-workers-killed-gaza
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/opinion/jose-andres-let-people-eat.html
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/world/middleeast/israel-world-central-kitchen-gaza.html
Matt Till 