IDF: Strike that killed World Central Kitchen workers was 'serious failure due to a mistaken identification'
The Israel Defense Forces took responsibility for a strike that killed several World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza after an investigation that called it a "serious failure."
The Israel Defense Forces on Friday released the results of an investigation into a missile strike that killed several World Central Kitchen aid workers in the Gaza Strip.
IDF investigators said the incident "should not have occurred" and that the authorities who approved the strike had been mistakenly convinced they were targeting Hamas operatives. Two officers, a brigade fire support commander and brigade chief of staff, will be dismissed from their positions.
"The strike on the aid vehicles is a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures," the IDF said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel had mistakenly killed seven people working for the aid charity, including a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, which prompted international condemnation and demands for an explanation.
The IDF investigation found that forces had identified a gunman on one of the aid trucks and then found additional gunmen. After the vehicles delivered aid to a warehouse, Israeli military commanders had mistakenly assumed the gunmen were Hamas terrorists and that they were riding in the vehicles.
Israeli forces did not identify the vehicles as belonging to the World Central Kitchen. Following the mistaken identification, the military carried out strikes on the three vehicles, which killed seven aid workers.
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The U.S. and other allies have stepped up criticism of Israel for civilian casualties in Gaza, where thousands have died in the six months since Israel invaded in response to the Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas.
The World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, announced Tuesday that it would pause all operations in Gaza after the "unforgivable" Israeli strike.
The group said its team had been "traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo and a soft skin vehicle" in central Gaza on Monday when it came under fire, resulting in the deaths of the American, a Palestinian worker and others from Australia, Poland and the United Kingdom.
World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore described the incident as "not only an attack against WCK," but an "attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war" and that it is "unforgivable."
Israel denies targeting civilians and said the strike that killed the WCK workers was carried out by mistake. In addition to the two officers who will be dismissed, a brigade commander and 162nd Division commander will be formally reprimanded, according to the IDF. The commander of the Southern Command will be reprimanded as well "for his overall responsibility for the incident," the military said.
"The IDF takes seriously the grave incident that claimed the lives of seven innocent humanitarian aid workers. We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the families and the WCK organization," the IDF said.
Fox News Digital's Greg Norman and Reuters contributed to this report.
