Israeli Air Strikes in Gaza: Operational Failures, Not Intentional Attack

An Australian government review determined that Israeli air strikes which killed international aid workers in Gaza were due to operational failures and not intentional. The strikes on April 1 resulted in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) staff. Misidentification and errors by the IDF were cited, and Australia calls for accountability.

An Australian government review has found that Israeli air strikes, which killed international aid workers in Gaza in April, were the result of serious operational failures but were not intentional.

The strikes, occurring on April 1, targeted a convoy of World Central Kitchen (WCK) vehicles and resulted in the deaths of seven staff members, including Palestinians and citizens from Australia, Britain, and Poland. The incident prompted widespread condemnation from Israel's allies, with accusations that Israel had purposefully targeted the aid workers—a claim Israel denies.

The review noted that the Israel Defense Force (IDF) mistakenly believed the convoy was being hijacked by Hamas fighters, who were actually locally-contracted security personnel. Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, who investigated the deaths, affirmed that the strike was not knowingly directed at the WCK.

Despite previous IDF acknowledgments of the incident as a grave mistake, the review pointed out control failures and decision-making errors, exacerbated by confirmation bias. Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized Australia's commitment to seeking full accountability, including potential criminal charges, urging transparency in the Military Advocate General of Israel's ongoing review process.

(With inputs from agencies.)