World Central Kitchen reports that at least seven people were killed as a result of the strike on Tuesday, April 2. Photo: ABDEL KARIM HANAH/AP
Israel has fired two soldiers in connection with the bombing of an aid convoy that killed three former British soldiers.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted that the strikes three vehicles were in “serious breach” of operational procedures. according to a report published Friday.
The IDF says the unit mistakenly believed Hamas terrorists were part of a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy after spotting militants on aid trucks.
“After the vehicles abandoned warehouse where humanitarian aid was unloaded, one of the commanders mistakenly assumed that the militants were inside the accompanying vehicles and that they were Hamas terrorists,” the IDF report said, calling the attack a “serious incident.” and an expression of “sorrow” for the dead.
The attacks sparked a wave of international condemnation and led to a sharp warning from Joe Biden that the US was considering withdrawing its support.
The report's findings and the IDF's punishment of soldiers are unlikely to ease tensions, given warnings that that Israel must protect civilians in Gaza or face an arms embargo.
'Mistaken identity' led to attack
On Friday, the Israeli military announced that the fire support commander with the rank of major and the chief of staff of the brigade with the rank of reserve colonel had been fired.
In addition, the brigade commander and the commander of the 162nd division will be formally reprimanded along with the commander of the Southern command.
The statement said: “Following a misidentification by security forces, forces attacked three WCK vehicles based on misclassification of the event and misidentification of the vehicles as those containing Hamas militants, resulting in the strike resulting in the death of seven innocent aid workers.” humanitarian workers.”
UN aid organizations, which provide about 80 percent of aid in the Gaza Strip, subsequently suspended operations overnight. Several other humanitarian organizations have suspended their activities altogether because conditions have become too dangerous for their workers.
Following the report's publication, Lord Cameron said: «We are carefully reviewing the initial findings of the Israeli investigation into the murder of aid workers WCK and welcome the suspension of the two officers as a first step.»
«These findings must be published in full and updated in full independently verified to ensure maximum transparency and accountability.”
He added: “There are lessons to be learned from today's initial findings by the IDF. It is clear that serious reform of Israel's conflict resolution machinery is urgently needed to ensure the safety of aid workers.
“The death of these brave heroes is a tragedy and must never happen again.”
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Dozens of aid workers are said to have died since war broke out on October 7 following the Hamas invasion of Israel. The UN said the strip was on the brink of famine as aid was struggling to reach the population.
The IDF said: “The results of the investigation show that the incident should not have happened. Those who approved the strike were convinced that it targeted armed Hamas militants and not WCK employees.
“The targeting of relief vehicles is a serious mistake, caused by a serious failure due to mistaken identity, errors in decision-making and an attack contrary to standard operating procedures.”
An investigation was conducted. Fact Finding and Assessment Mechanism of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was presented on Thursday to Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Chief of the IDF General Staff.
“The IDF takes seriously the serious incident that resulted in the loss of life of seven innocent aid workers help. We express our deepest sorrow for the loss and express our condolences to the families and the WCK organization,” the statement said.
The charity's founder described the attack as a calculated goal.
Israel reveals details of killings
At a briefing in Jerusalem, the IDF released additional details of the killings. It showed grainy drone footage of the gunman riding on top of a large aid truck, accompanied by WCK.
The IDF said the military then contacted WCK but could not get through. According to the BBC, which was present at the briefing, drone footage confirmed that the WCK logos were not visible to the drone operator.
As soon as the aid truck remained in the warehouse, four SUV-type vehicles appeared. One of them, containing the militants seen in the drone footage, is heading north. Three more, containing aid workers, are heading south.
The IDF thought it was dealing with Hamas militants, a briefing said, after misidentifying one of the aid workers as a militant.
A military investigation said it was due to misclassification. Retired Major General Yoav Har Even said: “They saw that it was a rifle, but in the end it was a bag.”
In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, José Andrés said: “It wasn't just an unlucky situation where 'oops' we dropped the bomb in the wrong place. What I do know is that we were deliberately pursued non-stop until everyone in that convoy died.”
International voices echoed these concerns. Anthony Albanese, Australia's prime minister, said Israel's explanation was «not good enough.»
As the US increases pressure on Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis, two new land crossings have been authorized to resume aid operations in strip.
On Friday, 100 truckloads of aid from Jordan were transported through Allenby. The crossing into the Gaza Strip through Kerem Shalom in southern Israel, which will open on Saturday by decision of the Israeli cabinet.
From Sunday, aid will be delivered through both the Israeli port of Ashdod and the Erez crossing. The crossing was opened for the first time since October 7, when the Hamas terrorist group killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and captured more than 250 people in the Gaza Strip.
The US has stepped up pressure on Israel as agencies including the United Nations say famine has set in in the Gaza Strip.
Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip are complicated by Hamas's infiltration of difficult urban terrain. Aid convoys have been repeatedly hijacked by armed and Hamas militants amid famine in the sector.
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