[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 59 (Monday, April 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         World Central Kitchen

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, last week, we saw another tragedy in 
Gaza--an attack that killed seven people delivering desperately needed, 
lifesaving humanitarian aid. The victims were employees of the World 
Central Kitchen, an amazing organization run by an extraordinary 
individual, Jose Andres.
  They started to feed people in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, and 
they have continued their mission in some of the most challenging parts 
of the world. Andres' innovative and courageous team has been helping 
people in Gaza since the crisis began in October, providing critical 
food to millions of innocents caught in the conflict.
  I joined Mr. Andres in a meeting in our Capitol just a few weeks ago 
with a few other Senators. He told us of his ambitious plans to 
increase food aid to Gaza.
  I have always admired his ingenuity and tenacity in taking on these 
truly lifesaving operations for those most in need. Mr. Andres is truly 
a hero. So my heart goes out to him and the families of those on his 
team who were recklessly and avoidably killed last week, adding to the 
more than 200 aid workers who have been killed in Gaza.
  We have seen a series of seemingly cascading crises in this conflict, 
and the list keeps growing: October 7, the Hamas attack on Israel that 
killed 1,200 and took more than 200 people hostage; the widespread 
destruction and loss of civilian life and growing humanitarian crisis 
in Gaza amid Israel's response that lacks any long-term strategy and is 
made worse by Hamas's hiding among civilians; the continued holding of 
Israeli hostages, including one with ties to our home State of 
Illinois, by Hamas and Hamas's refusal to accept a ceasefire in 
exchange for their release; the bewildering and inexcusable failure of 
Israel to set up deconfliction mechanisms for adequate aid delivery; 
and the failure to recognize that a massive military-only response by 
Israel will never provide a long-term path to stability and end the 
cycle of violence.
  I have long said that I do not think the current Israeli or 
Palestinian leadership is really up to the challenge needed to bring 
hope, stability, or a viable two-state solution to the region. Early in 
the conflict, I cautioned the Israelis not to be blinded by their pain 
from October 7 and make the same types of mistakes we made after 
September 11--a warning I believe the current leadership in Israel has 
failed to heed.
  But, if unable to learn from our missteps, then perhaps they should 
listen to former Mossad Chief Meir Dagan, who, before his death years 
ago, concluded that Israel, over the decades, ``achieved a long string 
of impressive tactical successes but also disastrous strategic 
failures.'' Tragically, I am worried that that is the same case today.
  Chef Andres has made a similar point with which I agree--that 
Israel's strategy in Gaza is futile and indefensible with so much 
innocent loss of human life.
  I have long called for a ceasefire that includes the release of the 
remaining hostages as well as a sustained, U.S.-led Gaza relief 
operation that includes food, medicine, and other critical basics. The 
inexcusable deaths of the World Central Kitchen staff in Gaza are 
reminders that these steps are needed now more than ever.
  (The remarks of Mr. Durbin pertaining to the introduction of S. Res. 
629 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. DURBIN. I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.