IDF says it misidentified WCK worker as Hamas Gunman
A recent Israeli airstrike targeting a convoy of aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK) in Gaza has sparked widespread outrage, including from the organization’s founder, celebrity chef José Andrés. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of seven members of the group, has been met with international condemnation.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued an apology for the incident, attributing it to an unfortunate accident in the chaos of conflict. They have committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. Despite this, Andrés has asserted that the attack was deliberate.
The backdrop of this tragic event is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Nearly six months after a terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 fatalities according to Israeli officials, the Israeli military has continued its offensive in Gaza. The bombardment has led to over 32,000 deaths, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
The IDF released a statement regarding the airstrike that claimed the lives of the seven WCK aid workers on April 1. The military explained that a commander mistakenly identified a worker in the convoy as a Hamas gunman. As a result, the vehicles, which had just left a warehouse after unloading aid, were targeted under the false assumption that they contained Hamas terrorists.
The investigation into the incident revealed that there were three strikes on the convoy, with the first vehicle being hit and then struck again as the workers attempted to move to another vehicle. The IDF acknowledged that the strike was a grave error resulting from a series of misjudgments and a deviation from standard operating procedures. They also confirmed that WCK had appropriately coordinated its movements with the IDF prior to the incident and that a comprehensive plan for their movement had been in place on the night of the tragedy.
