José Andrés, the founder of the food charity sending aid to Gaza, called for a cease-fire and urged Israel to do more to prevent hunger in the region as a second ship prepared to depart with much-needed supplies on Sunday.
Mr. Andrés, a celebrity chef, emphasized on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Israel should ensure no one goes hungry and everyone has access to food and water, especially in Gaza where 2.2 million people are on the brink of famine.
Expressing hope that World Central Kitchen could increase its aid efforts, Mr. Andrés spoke of bringing large quantities of food daily to Gaza, where the Open Arms, the first ship dispatched by the group, recently delivered a small amount of food compared to the vast need.
Aid groups, including World Central Kitchen, have been urging Israel to allow more trucks in through land crossings to sustain Gaza’s population, as the current aid deliveries fall short of the United Nations’ recommendations.
To overcome the limitations at land crossings, creative solutions like a maritime route from Cyprus to Gaza and a temporary pier off Gaza’s coast are being explored by donors such as the European Union and the United States.
Mr. Andrés, who founded World Central Kitchen after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, questioned the bombing of buildings in Gaza by Israel and emphasized the need for peace, highlighting the shared love for food between people on both sides of the conflict.
