Israel’s military has concluded that the airstrike in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of a Canadian and six other aid workers in April 2024, did not involve criminal conduct. The decision not to pursue a criminal investigation was announced by Israel’s military prosecutor. The strike targeted a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles, killing Jacob Flickinger, a military veteran from Quebec, a Palestinian, and aid workers from the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand expressed her dissatisfaction with the decision, stating that serious failures were identified in the operation and that closing the case without accountability deprives the families of the victims of answers they have sought for over two years. Anand emphasized the importance of protecting humanitarian workers in conflict zones and reiterated Canada’s expectation for the upholding of international humanitarian law and justice for the deceased workers and their families.
World Central Kitchen, the organization distributing food in Gaza, disclosed that they had coordinated with the military regarding the convoy’s movements. The vehicles, marked with the organization’s logo, were completely destroyed in the airstrike.
The military statement on Wednesday acknowledged that individuals in the vehicles were mistakenly identified as armed Hamas operatives. However, the statement indicated that the commanders’ decisions did not raise suspicions of criminal misconduct. World Central Kitchen responded by refuting the military’s account and called for an independent investigation.
The decision by Israel not to pursue criminal action over the killings also affected four Doctors Without Borders staffers in separate incidents in November 2023 and February 2024. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously called for a thorough and independent investigation into the deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers and strongly criticized the notion that collateral deaths are acceptable in war.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed outrage over the decision, calling it insulting, especially as it coincided with World Humanitarian Day. Wong emphasized the need for greater accountability for the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and questioned the adequacy of the removals and reprimands of officers involved in the airstrike incident. She further indicated that the Australian government is considering its next steps in response to the Israeli military’s decision.
Various organizations and officials have continued to advocate for transparency and justice in the aftermath of the tragic incident, pressing for a full investigation and accountability for those responsible for the deaths of the aid workers in Gaza.
