The Israeli military takes “full responsibility” for the deaths of seven aid workers killed in an airstrike on Gaza on April 1.
“This is a tragedy,” Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said on April 5. “It was a horrifying series of mistakes that should never have happened. The IDF takes full responsibility for this unfortunate loss of life.”
The announcement comes after several days of investigation into the deaths of seven employees of chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen organization.
Founded by a Spanish-American chef, this nonprofit organization aims to alleviate hunger and provide meals in conflict zones.
In his April 5 comments, Hagari said the investigation was conducted as part of the Fact-Finding and Evaluation Mechanism, an “independent body outside the chain of command.”
Hagari said the airstrikes on WCK workers were “serious mistakes resulting from serious operational failures, including incorrect classification and identification, poor decision-making, and strikes carried out in violation of stalled work procedures.” It was,” he said.
He acknowledged that the IDF took several disciplinary actions following the incident, including dismissing two officers and formally reprimanding three commanders.
World Central Kitchen said in a statement on April 5 that the investigation and subsequent disciplinary action was an “important step forward,” while the organization said it would “independently commission an independent commission to investigate the killing of a WCK colleague.” He said he is requesting.
“The IDF is unable to credibly investigate its own failures in Gaza,” the statement said. “If we don't change the system, there will be more military failures, more apologies, and more families grieving.”
World Central Kitchen relief workers killed in April 1 airstrike
In a statement shared on April 2, WCK identified the seven workers as Saifeddin Issam Avad Abutaha, 25, from Palestine. Lalzaumi “Zomi” Francome, 43, Australia. Damian Sobol, 35 years old, from Poland. Jacob Flickinger, 33, from the United States and Canada. John Chapman, 57, UK. James “Jim” Henderson, 33, UK. and James Kirby (47) from the UK.
What do we know about the April 1 airstrike that killed WCK workers?
WCK used to say:The NA issued a statement on April 2, saying the members were traveling in a “non-conflict zone” in two armored and soft-skinned vehicles bearing the WCK logo when they were struck.
The group added that the convoy was hit “despite coordination with the IDF” as it departed a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, where it had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid.
“This is not just an attack on WCK, but an attack on humanitarian organizations in the most dire situations where food is used as a weapon of war. This is unacceptable,” said Erin, CEO of World Central Kitchen. Mr. Gore said.
The IDF addressed the deaths in its first statement on April 1, saying it would conduct a “thorough investigation at the highest level,” according to a statement obtained by NBC News.
The findings announced on April 5 echo the IDF's previous statements regarding the incident. IDF Chief of Staff Helj Halevi said in a video posted on April 2 that the strikes against aid workers were not intentional.
“Let me be clear: the strike was not carried out with the intention of harming WCK aid workers. It was a mistake that happened. It shouldn't have happened.”
Halevi said the IDF is “taking immediate action to ensure more is done to protect humanitarian workers.”
“That incident was a grave mistake. Israel is at war with Hamas, not with the people of Gaza.” “We apologize for the unintentional harm caused to the members of WCK. We deeply share the grief of their families, and the entire World Central Kitchen organization.”
In the announcement on April 5th, Hagari claimed that “some of the vehicles identified during the course of the incident did in fact have a number of armed gunmen in and out of them.”
“After some vehicles separated from others, forces pursuing the vehicles southward did so believing they were Hamas vehicles and that Hamas armed groups had entered,” Hagari said. Stated.
Hagari said the soldiers carried out the airstrike “without any knowledge that these were actually WCK vehicles” and that cameras tracking the WCK vehicles were unable to identify the WCK logo on the vehicle's roof. He added that it was not visible at night.
NBC News has not been able to independently verify the IDF's claims.
Chef Jose Andres' response to murdered WCK aid worker
On April 1, Andres posted a statement regarding the death on his account. Xthe platform formerly known as Twitter.
“I am heartbroken and saddened by their families, friends, and our entire WCK family,” his post reads. “These are people… angels… I served with them in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, the Bahamas, Indonesia. They are not faceless… They are not nameless.”
“The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing,” his post continued. “We need to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon. No more innocent lives can be lost. Peace is what we need. It starts with our shared humanity. We have to start now.”
“Israel is better than the way this war is being waged,” Andres wrote in a New York Times op-ed published April 3.
in April 5th statement After the IDF released its findings, Andres, via WCK, condemned the number of civilian deaths caused by the conflict.
“The humanitarian death toll is now close to 200, and simply trying to avoid more humanitarian deaths is not enough,” Andres said. “All civilians must be protected, all innocent people in Gaza must be fed and safe. And all hostages must be released.”
President Joe Biden's response to aid worker death
President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” and blamed Israel for the death toll.
“They were feeding starving civilians in the midst of war,” Biden said in a statement. “They were brave and selfless. Their deaths are a tragedy.”
Biden added in his April 2 comments that the deaths of WCK aid workers are not an anomaly in conflicts.
“What's even more tragic is that this is not an isolated incident. This conflict is one of the worst in recent memory in that many aid workers have been killed.” said, adding that Israel's “failure to provide sufficient assistance has made it “extremely difficult” to distribute humanitarian aid to the region. Protect aid workers who are delivering desperately needed aid to civilians. ”
The president also said the United States “continues to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza through all available means” and that the United States is “strongly pushing for an immediate ceasefire as part of the hostage deal.”
