Israel's Military Chief Attributes Gaza Airstrike Deaths to 'Misidentification' in Complex Conditions

TOPSHOT-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-AID — TOPSHOT - This picture taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip shows parachutes of humanitarian aid dropping over the besieged Palestinian territory on March 26, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
(Photo : JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

An Israeli military leader claims that "misidentification" under difficult conditions led to the airstrikes in Gaza that killed relief workers.

Former Royal Marines James Henderson, John Chapman, and James Kirby were among the victims of a drone strike that has triggered worldwide condemnation. The World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity was hit on Monday as they moved food from a warehouse to distribute to Gaza's starving population.

Israel Accused of Targeting Aid in Gaza

Herzi Halevi, the head of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), issued an apology for the deaths, claiming they were caused by a "misidentification" in difficult conditions. "The bombing'shouldn't have happened,'" he conceded, adding that a 'thorough probe' by an impartial commission will be finished in the next few days.

Aid organizations have warned that the death of WCK staff may constitute a war crime, accusing Israel of purposefully targeting its knowledge and employees, including the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism.

In the coming days, Lt. Gen. Halevi disclosed that an inquiry into the incident has been initiated. He added that the findings of the independent investigation would be promptly put into practice and disseminated to WCK and other "relevant" international organizations.

He has visited the new Humanitarian Command Center to improve the way aid distribution in Gaza and said he will continue taking immediate actions to ensure that more is done to protect humanitarian aid workers.

World Central Kitchen said it had coordinated with the Israeli military over the movement of its cars. Three vehicles were hit in succession, leaving incinerated and mangled, indicating multiple targeted strikes.

The strike has been defined as an "intelligence failure" by an Israeli military source. IDF drones had followed the food convoy, according to Israeli security officials who spoke to the daily Haaretz, and the army had reasons to think that a Hamas person was accompanying the group. The terror suspect had lingered behind as the truck departed its storage in Deir Al-Balah,

The strikes on the charity's convoy highlighted what critics say is Israel's indiscriminate bombing and lack of regard for civilian casualties in Gaza. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged that Israeli forces were to blame, saying the aid workers had been killed by an 'unintended strike'.

Protests in Israel Over Controversial WCK Worker Deaths

Ben Saul, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and counterterror, has warned that the killing of World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers could be a war crime. He argued that Israel has a 'wider duty' to ensure the safety of aid workers and their freedom of movement, and to coordinate with them so that such tragedies never happen.

As the WCK personnel were leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where they had unloaded over 100 tons of humanitarian supplies that had been provided by boat to Gaza, an attack took place.

The WCK said that it had coordinated in advance with the Israeli Defense Forces the movement of their squad in Gaza. Erin Gore, CEO of WCK, called it a "targeted attack" meant to intimidate relief organizations operating in Gaza, which has been under siege for months after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7.

The world condemned Israel, and countries including Poland, Australia, and Canada demanded that Israel provide an explanation for the murders of their nationals.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has called on Israel to take "full accountability" for the relief worker Lalzawmi Frankcom's murder during the convoy. US President Joe Biden's press secretary described him as "heartbroken."

Protesters headed by anti-government organizations and relatives of Israeli captives marched on the PM's Jerusalem home last night.

Although Netanyahu stated that authorities were "checking this thoroughly," he also said, "We will do everything so that this thing does not happen again."

The IDF stated it was "reviewing the incident at the highest levels" and offered the families of the charity workers its "deepest condolences," Daily Mail reported.