Israel has fired two military commanders and reprimanded a third over a drone strike in Gaza that killed seven World Central Kitchen workers on Monday, saying they had mishandled critical information and violated the army’s rules of engagement.>>>>CONTINUE READING HERE
According to the findings of an investigation into the incident, released today, the IDF said that the attack ‘should not have occurred’.
The workers from the charity, which provides food relief in crisis and conflict zones, were killed when their convoy was hit on Monday night.
Their convoy was struck by IDF missiles shortly after they oversaw the unloading of 100 tons of food brought to the Palestinian territory by sea.
‘The investigation’s findings indicate that the incident should not have occurred,’ the IDF said in its release on its findings.
Damage to one of the three cars that was struck in the attack on Monday is seen on Tuesday
‘Those who approved the strike were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives and not WCK employees,’ it said.
‘The strike on the aid vehicles is a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures,’ the release added.
It goes on to say that ‘after being presented with, and considering the investigation’s findings, the IDF Chief of the General Staff’ would:
Dismiss the brigade fire support commander, an officer with the rank of major; Dismiss the brigade chief of staff, an officer with the rank of colonel in reserve; Formerly reprimand the brigade commander and the 162nd Division commander The statement added that ‘the IDF Chief of Staff decided to formally reprimand the commander of the Southern Command for his overall responsibility for the incident.’
Since Monday, the news of the airstrikes has reverberated around the world, with the UK, US and other allies of Israel expressing their anger over the strikes.
Those killed included three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian.
The British victims were Former Royal Marines James Henderson and John Chapman and an ex-Army soldier James Kirby.
They were providing security for four aid workers, including Australian Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom, Polish national Damian Sobol, an American-Canadian dual citizen Jacob Flickinger and Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha.
The seven who were killed were distributing food that had been brought into Gaza through a newly established maritime corridor.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) said it had coordinated its movements with the military, and that the vehicles were marked with the organisation’s logo.
‘It was a direct attack on clearly marked vehicles whose movements were known by’ the Israeli military, WCK founder and celebrity chef José André ssaid on Wednesday.
His findings mark an embarrassing admission by Israel, which faces growing accusations from key allies of not doing enough to protect Gaza’s civilians – as well as other protected groups including aid workers and journalists from its war.
The findings are also likely to renew skepticism over the Israeli military’s decision-making as it continues its mission to eradicate Hamas in the wake of the October 7 terrorist attacks perpetrated by the group.
Palestinians, aid groups and human rights organisations have accused Israeli forces of firing recklessly at civilians throughout the conflict – a charge Israel denies.
‘It’s a tragedy,’ the military’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, told reporters.
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‘It’s a serious event that we are responsible for and it shouldn’t have happened and we will make sure that it won’t happen again.’
With pressure mounting on Israel to hold itself accountable, Hagari and other officials late Thursday shared with reporters the results of the military’s uncommonly speedy and detailed investigation.
It was unclear whether the punishments and the apology would calm an international outcry over the deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers or reassure international aid groups that it was safe to resume operations in Gaza, where nearly a third of the population is on the brink of starvation.>>>>CONTINUE READING HERE
