Israeli Military Punishes Officers for Drone Strikes Killing Gaza Aid Workers
The Israeli military has dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others for their roles in drone strikes in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers on a food-delivery mission. This move comes as Israel faces mounting accusations from key allies, including the United States, for not doing enough to protect civilians in the region from the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
The investigation into the killings, led by a retired general, has brought embarrassment to Israel and renewed skepticism over military decision-making. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari called the incident a tragedy and admitted that it should not have happened. The speed of the probe and the swift punishment of officers has been deemed unusual.
However, the punishments and apology may not be enough to calm the international outcry over the deaths of the aid workers. World Central Kitchen, the organization the workers were affiliated with, called the investigation and disciplinary actions “important steps forward” but noted that the army did not follow its own protocols.
The investigation revealed that officers failed to properly identify the convoy of aid workers before authorizing the strikes. Those who identified the strike target and approved the strike were found to have acted with insufficient information. The army released footage showing a gunman firing a weapon while riding atop a delivery truck, but the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified by the Associated Press.
Despite these revelations, the army declined to address questions about other potential violations of rules of engagement during the conflict. According to the UN, more than 220 humanitarian workers have been killed in the conflict so far, further highlighting the need for greater protection of civilians in the region.
