[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.