Israel may approve external investigation into aid workers’ deaths

The military has not yet announced whether it would open a criminal investigation of those directly involved in the incident.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel may allow an external investigation into an IDF airstrike that resulted in the deaths of World Central Kitchen workers, according to a report from Kan Reshet Bet.

The U.S.-based World Central Kitchen demanded an investigation following the accidental killing of seven aid workers last week in Gaza.

If approved, several independent international organizations could potentially take part in the investigation.

Although in the past Israel has been reluctant to allow external investigations, the severity of the incident and the potential it has to shake international organizations’ faith in the IDF are reasons to allow the probe into the matter.

Included in the investigations will be eyewitness evidence as well as intelligence and visual materials from the IDF and the Israeli Air Force.

It has already been determined that the strikes were executed contrary to protocol and were aimed at the vehicles under the false impression that terrorists, rather than aid workers, were inside.

Strikes were carried out erroneously in spite of arrangements made between the IDF and World Central Kitchen ahead of time.

The military has not yet announced whether it would open a criminal investigation of those directly involved in the incident.

After hearing about the incident, US National Security Council Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters the Biden administration was “outraged” by the incident, and demanded “accountability” from Israel.

“We were outraged to learn of an IDF strike that killed a number of civilian humanitarian workers yesterday from the World Central Kitchen, which has been relentlessly working to get food to those who are hungry in Gaza.”

“We hope that those findings will be made public, and that there is appropriate accountability held.”

Kirby also said the strike was “emblematic of the larger problem and evidence of why distribution of aid in Gaza has been so challenging.”

President Isaac Herzog expressed his “deep sorrow and sincere apologies over the tragic loss of life of WCK staff in the Gaza Strip,” the president’s office said, “and sent his condolences to their families and loved ones.”