The Israeli army’s investigation into the airstrikes that killed seven collaborators of chef José Andrés’ NGO, World Central Kitchen (WCK), has uncovered significant errors and raised unanswered questions. The report, made public on Friday and presented to WCK and the ambassadors of the victims’ countries by Lieutenant General Yoav Har-Even, expresses regret for the incident.
The Israeli military acknowledges that the bombings were a result of serious errors and violations, leading to the suspension of a brigade chief and another officer, along with reprimands to senior officers. The investigation revealed that a commander mistakenly identified armed individuals near the aid trucks as militants, leading to the tragic outcome.
Chef José Andrés criticized the Israeli Armed Forces’ handling of the incident, calling for the protection of civilians and all innocent people in Gaza. He emphasized that humanitarian workers should not be targeted in conflicts and that their safety must be ensured at all times.
The United Nations Secretary-General emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in the Israeli army’s strategy and procedures following the unacceptable number of humanitarian worker deaths. She called for greater accountability and transparency in Israel’s military actions, including more rigorous investigations into incidents involving civilian casualties.
Israeli Minister of Internal Security criticized the suspension of officers, considering it a sign of weakness. He argued that Israel has a right to defend itself against attacks from Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza. However, he also acknowledged that mistakes were made during these operations and promised to work towards ensuring they do not happen again in future incidents.
The decision by Israel’s government to open up its Erez border crossing and authorize humanitarian aid through Ashdod port is seen as an important step towards resolving tensions in Gaza region following an attack on October 7th by Hamas which heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians
