Israel’s military investigation has determined that the airstrike in Gaza in April 2024, which resulted in the deaths of a Canadian aid worker and six others, did not constitute a criminal act. The incident involved an attack on a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles, causing casualties from various countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
In response to the decision, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand criticized the lack of accountability in the case, highlighting serious failures in the strike and emphasizing the importance of protecting humanitarian workers in conflict zones. She expressed disappointment over the closure of the investigation without providing answers to the victims’ families.
World Central Kitchen, the organization involved in distributing food aid in Gaza, refuted the military’s account of the incident, calling for an independent investigation to ascertain the truth. The group had coordinated with the military regarding the convoy’s movements, and the vehicles were visibly marked with the organization’s logo.
The military stated that individuals in the vehicles were mistakenly identified as armed Hamas operatives, leading to the airstrike. However, it concluded that the commanders’ decisions did not indicate criminal misconduct. This explanation was met with skepticism by World Central Kitchen, which criticized the military’s version of events as misleading and called for a thorough inquiry.
The decision not to pursue criminal action over the deaths of aid workers, including Zomi Frankcom from Australia, sparked outrage in Australia. Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the lack of sufficient accountability for the victims and expressed dismay that the announcement coincided with World Humanitarian Day.
Australian officials summoned the Israeli ambassador to convey their concerns, emphasizing the need for transparency and justice in the investigation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada also called for an independent and transparent probe into the incident, rejecting any notion that collateral deaths are acceptable in conflict situations.
The Israeli military additionally announced its decision not to pursue criminal action in other instances involving the deaths of Doctors Without Borders staff. The lack of accountability in these cases has raised further questions about the handling of humanitarian aid workers in conflict zones, prompting international scrutiny and demands for justice.