Questions swirl over strike on aid workers
Deadly attack renews criticism of Israel’s conduct
The bodies of six foreign aid workers killed in Israeli airstrikes began the journey back to their home countries yesterday as more questions swirled over Israel’s explanation that a “misidentification” led to the attack on their convoy.
The deadly strikes have renewed criticism of Israel’s conduct in the nearly six-month-old war with Hamas.
They have also highlighted the risks that the military’s bombardment poses to aid workers as they try to deliver food to the besieged enclave.
The UN says nearly a third of the Gaza population is on the brink of starvation.
The three British citizens, a Polish citizen, an Australian and a Canadian American dual citizen worked for World Central Kitchen, an international charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. Their Palestinian driver was also killed, and his remains were handed over to his family for burial in Gaza. The other bodies were driven into Egypt through the Rafah crossing.
The seven were distributing food that had been brought into Gaza through a newly established maritime corridor when Israeli airstrikes targeted their three vehicles on Tuesday, killing everyone inside.
Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, announced the results of a preliminary investigation.
“It was a mistake that followed a misidentification — at night during a war in very complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened.”
He gave no further details. He said an independent body would complete a “thorough investigation” in the coming days.
Andres said the strikes “were not just some unfortunate mistake in the fog of war”.
“It was a direct attack on clearly marked vehicles whose movements were known by” the Israeli military, Andres wrote in Israel’s Yediot Ahronot newspaper. “It was also the direct result of [the Israeli] Government’s policy to squeeze humanitarian aid to desperate levels.”
World Central Kitchen said it had co-ordinated its movements with the military, and the vehicles were marked with the organisation’s logo.
Andres, a Spanish-american chef whose organisation has provided aid in war and disaster zones all over the world, including to Israelis after Hamas’ October 7 attack that triggered the war, wrote that “the Israeli Government needs to open land routes to food and medicine today. It needs to stop killing civilians and aid workers today”.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedreo Sanchez, said Israel’s explanation so far was “absolutely unacceptable and insufficient” and called for “much more detailed clarification of what happened”.
He spoke at a joint news conference in Doha with his Qatari counter
part. Qatar has played a key role in efforts to mediate a ceasefire, along with the US and Egypt.
Some of Israel’s closest allies condemned the deaths, which led the World Central Kitchen and other charities to suspend food deliveries.
Israeli officials have not elaborated on the nature of the mistake.
The military has repeatedly struck aid vehicles and ambulances, as well as humanitarian group offices and UN facilities, often justifying the attacks by saying suspected militants were present. The military says strikes are first cleared by legal experts, but critics have called the bombardment indiscriminate with little regard for civilian casualties.
More than 180 humanitarian workers have been killed in the conflict, according to the UN.
On Wednesday, Israeli TV reported initial findings that have not been officially confirmed, saying the army identified the cars carrying World Central Kitchen’s workers and observed suspected militants nearby.
Half an hour later, the vehicles
It was also the direct result of [the Israeli] Government’s policy to squeeze humanitarian aid to desperate levels.
Jose Andres, World Central Kitchen founder
were struck by the air force. The reports said it was not clear who ordered the strikes or why.
Dr Maya Sion-tzidkiyahu, an expert in Israel-europe relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the progressive think tank Mitvim Institute, said it was possible the military did not have enough control over commanders and soldiers on the ground, who are “taking some action into their own hands”.
“They’re interpreting the engagement rules in a much more elaborate way”.
International reaction had been “extremely harsh, and it’s justified”, she said. “The credit that we had after October 7 has already dwindled, and now it’s dwindled so much more.”
Israel faces growing isolation as international criticism of its Gaza assault has mounted. On the same day as the deadly airstrikes, Israel stirred more fears by apparently striking Iran’s consulate in Damascus, killing two Iranian generals. The Government also moved to shut down a foreign media outlet — Qatari-owned Al Jazeera television.
The hit on World Central Kitchen’s convoy threatened to set back efforts by the US and others to open a maritime corridor for aid from Cyprus to help ease the conditions in northern Gaza. Israel has restricted access to the north, where experts say famine is imminent.
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to speak today amid growing White House frustration with Israel’s prosecution of the war.
—AP