An Israeli military investigation into drone strikes in Gaza that killed seven aid workers on a food delivery mission has resulted in the dismissal of two officers and the reprimand of three others for mishandling critical information and violating rules of engagement. This admission by Israel comes at a time when the country is facing accusations of not doing enough to protect civilians in its conflict with Hamas. The findings of the investigation are likely to fuel skepticism over the Israeli military’s decision-making, as Palestinians, aid groups, and human rights organizations have long accused Israeli forces of firing recklessly at civilians during the conflict.
The quickness of the investigation and subsequent punishment of the officers is unusual given the usual slow pace of such inquiries. However, the acceptance of responsibility and the disciplinary actions are unlikely to calm the international outrage over the deaths of the aid workers, nor reassure aid groups about the safety of resuming operations in Gaza. The World Central Kitchen, the organization the aid workers were affiliated with, called the investigation and actions taken by the military as important steps forward but stressed the need for systemic changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Israeli army’s rules of engagement require officers to have more than one reason for identifying someone as a target before authorizing a strike. In this case, a colonel authorized deadly drone strikes on the convoy based on an observation by a major, from grainy drone-camera footage, that someone in the convoy was armed — an observation that turned out to be incorrect. The investigation found that the colonel and major were dismissed, and three other officers were reprimanded, with further punishment or prosecution possible pending a decision by the military’s advocate general.
The killings of the aid workers have been condemned by Israel’s allies, raising criticism of the country’s conduct in its conflict with Hamas and bringing attention to the dire situation in Gaza, where a significant portion of the population is on the brink of starvation. While Israel has promised to increase aid and open more border crossings into Gaza, the United States has emphasized the need for tangible steps to better protect civilians and aid workers. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate cease-fire, the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and a significant improvement in the delivery of humanitarian aid in the region.
The aid workers killed by the drone strikes were from various countries and affiliated with World Central Kitchen, a charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés. The investigation found fault with officers for failing to read messages about the workers’ transportation and for acting on insufficient information in targeting the convoy. The military claimed that one of the passengers inside a car was identified as a gunman, prompting the strikes, but it was later determined that the passenger was not carrying a weapon. The army also cited suspicion based on a gunman seen on a delivery truck earlier in the day as a reason for the strikes.
The army’s coordination with World Central Kitchen in planning the convoy’s movements and the marking of the vehicles with the organization’s logo were called into question, as drone operators claimed they could not see the markings at night. The breakdown in communication regarding the convoy’s plans remains unclear. Humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam, have highlighted the systemic issue of aid workers being killed in Gaza and stressed the need for independent investigations and meaningful reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
