The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired two officers after determining that an airstrike this week that killed seven workers from the charity group World Central Kitchen (WCK) should not have happened.
An initial investigation by the Israeli Joint Chiefs of Staff revealed that the IDF wrongly identified a convoy carrying the workers — who had informed the military of their movements — as armed Hamas fighters instead of members of WCK.
“The strike on the aid vehicles is a serious mistake due to misidentification, decision-making errors, and a violation of Standard Operating Procedures,” the IDF stated in a Friday announcement sharing the initial findings.
The investigation was presented to the IDF’s top commander, Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, as well as to WCK staff members and international ambassadors and journalists.
Following the findings, Halevi decided to dismiss the brigade fire support commander who held the rank of a major and a brigade chief of staff who held the rank of a colonel in reserve.
The IDF also reprimanded a brigade commander, a 162nd Division commander, and a commander of the Southern Command.
“The IDF takes the grave incident that resulted in the deaths of seven innocent humanitarian aid workers very seriously,” the military expressed in the announcement. “We convey our deep sorrow for the loss and extend our condolences to the families and the WCK organization.
“We consider the vital humanitarian work of international aid organizations to be of utmost importance, and we will continue to collaborate and support their activities, while ensuring their safety and protecting their lives.”
WCK mentioned that the IDF had taken “significant steps” in acknowledging responsibility for the incident and taking disciplinary action against officers.
However, WCK also stated that the IDF had “used deadly force without regard to its own protocols, chain of command, and rules of engagement.”
“Without fundamental change, there will be more military failures, more apologies, and more grieving families,” WCK commented. “The underlying cause of the unjustified attack on our convoy is the severe shortage of food in Gaza. Israel must significantly increase the amount of food and medicine transported by land if it is genuinely committed to supporting humanitarian aid.”
WCK called for an independent investigation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called for an independent investigation into the WCK strike. The strike highlighted the deadly impact of the Gaza war on humanitarian aid workers, with over 200 of them dying since the conflict began in October. also called “Their apologies for the outrageous killing of our colleagues provide little comfort,” stated WCK CEO Erin Gore in a release. “It’s little comfort for the victims’ families and WCK’s global family.”
The fatal strike on Monday struck the aid convoy carrying the WCK staff three times in what the charity group’s founder José Andrés described as Israel “systematically” targeting his workers. The incident prompted him to halt operations in Gaza, where there is a dire need for humanitarian aid.
The Biden administration has also urged Israel to increase efforts to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the United Nations is warning of a severe food shortage in the north. Biden also used some of his strongest language yet after the WCK strike and had a tense phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
harshest language yet after the WCK strike and had a tense phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Friday’s initial investigation stated IDF forces had spotted two gunmen on the aid convoy. After it departed the warehouse, “one of the commanders mistakenly thought that the gunmen were inside the accompanying vehicles and that these were Hamas terrorists,” the IDF said.
“The forces did not recognize the vehicles in question as being linked to WCK,” the IDF said. “The attacks on the three vehicles were carried out in serious violation of the commands and IDF Standard Operating Procedures.”
–Updated at 7:59 a.m.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday let go of two officers after determining that a deadly strike this week which killed seven workers with the charity group World Central Kitchen (WCK) should not have happened. A preliminary investigation conducted by the Israeli Joint Chiefs of Staff found that the IDF incorrectly believed a convoy carrying the…
