Australian Review Finds Israeli Air Strikes on Aid Workers in Gaza Resulted from Operational Failures, Not Intentional Attack
An Australian government review has determined that the Israeli air strikes that killed seven international aid workers in Gaza on April 1 were due to significant operational errors rather than an intentional attack. The findings were released on Friday, shedding light on the tragic incident that sparked international outrage and condemnation.
The air strikes targeted a convoy of World Central Kitchen (WCK) vehicles traveling through Gaza, resulting in the deaths of staff members from Palestine, Australia, Britain, and Poland. The incident drew severe criticism from Israel’s allies, who accused Israel of deliberately targeting the aid workers, a claim that Israel has consistently rejected.
According to the Australian review, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) mistakenly believed that the convoy was being hijacked by Hamas fighters. In reality, the convoy was being escorted by locally-contracted security guards. The review highlights that crucial information about the convoy’s movements had not reached the IDF team responsible for the strikes. This lack of communication, compounded by the inability to directly contact the aid convoy, contributed to the tragic misidentification.
Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, who led the Australian investigation, noted that the IDF’s failure to follow standard procedures—specifically, ordering subsequent strikes without re-identifying the convoy—was a key factor in the incident. “In this incident, it appears that the IDF controls failed, leading to errors in decision-making and a misidentification, likely compounded by a level of confirmation bias,” Binskin stated.
The review concludes that the strike was not a deliberate attack on WCK workers. Binskin affirmed, “Based on the information available to me, it is my assessment that the IDF strike on the WCK aid workers was not knowingly or deliberately directed against the WCK.”
The Israeli military has already taken steps in response to the incident. The IDF dismissed two senior commanders involved and reprimanded three others. Israel has characterized the incident as a grave mistake and has pledged to review and improve its operational procedures to prevent such errors in the future.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for an apology from the Israeli government and emphasized the need for accountability. She has also urged for criminal charges against those found responsible if appropriate. “This is not an isolated incident,” Wong said, highlighting the broader issue of safety for humanitarian workers in conflict zones. She pointed out that around 250 aid workers have been killed during the ongoing conflict and noted recent incidents involving UN vehicles being targeted.
Wong has written to her Israeli counterpart to advocate for stronger protections for humanitarian personnel, stressing the need for enhanced safety measures to prevent further tragedies. The review’s findings underscore the critical importance of accurate communication and adherence to operational protocols in safeguarding civilians and aid workers in conflict areas.
 vehicles traveling through Gaza, resulting in the deaths of staff members from Palestine, Australia, Britain, and Poland. The incident drew severe criticism from Israel's allies){kind=link}