Australian Government's Review Finds Israeli Air Strikes That Killed Aid Workers in Gaza Were Operational Failures

A review by the Australian government concluded that Israeli air strikes in Gaza in April were due to serious operational failures, not intentional acts. The strikes killed seven workers, including international citizens. Mistaken identity and communication gaps led to the tragic incident. Australia calls for accountability and better protection for aid workers.

An Australian government review released on Friday concluded that Israeli air strikes in Gaza that killed international aid workers in April were due to serious operational failures, not intentional acts. The incident resulted in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen staff members.

The review found that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) mistakenly believed the aid convoy was hijacked by Hamas fighters. Locally-contracted security guards were misidentified, and information about the convoy's movements did not reach the IDF team responsible for the strike. This miscommunication was exacerbated by the inability of Israeli officials to directly communicate with the convoy and breaches in standard procedures.

Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, who investigated the incident in Israel, asserted that the control failures led to errors in decision making and misidentifications. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong demanded an apology from Israel and accountability for those involved, stressing the need for better protection of humanitarian workers in conflict zones.

(With inputs from agencies.)