Israel’s military has determined that the killing of a Canadian and six aid workers in Gaza two years ago was not a criminal act. This decision has sparked outrage in Australia, where the foreign minister has summoned the Israeli ambassador. However, Canada has not yet responded to the report released on Wednesday.
The Israeli military prosecutor announced that there would be no criminal investigation into the April 2024 airstrikes in Gaza that targeted a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles. The airstrikes resulted in the deaths of Jacob Flickinger, a military veteran from Quebec, a Palestinian individual, and aid workers from the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
The aid group, known for distributing food in Gaza, stated that they had coordinated with the military regarding the convoy’s movements. Despite having the group’s logo visible on the vehicles’ roofs, the convoy was left destroyed by the airstrikes.
The military’s statement on Wednesday indicated that individuals in the vehicles were mistakenly identified as armed Hamas operatives. However, it concluded that the decisions made by the commanders did not suggest any criminal misconduct. Following the incident, two officers were relieved of their duties, and three others were reprimanded.
World Central Kitchen responded by stating that the military’s version of events was inaccurate and called for an independent investigation to be conducted.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed dissatisfaction with the removals and reprimands of officers, stating that they were not sufficient accountability for the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom. She criticized the Israeli Defense Forces’ admission of serious failures in following procedures, mistaken identification, and errors in decision-making that led to the tragic incident.
The Israeli military also announced their decision not to pursue criminal action regarding the deaths of four Doctors Without Borders staffers in separate incidents in November 2023 and February 2024.
After the deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers in 2024, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for an independent investigation beyond the Israeli military. He rejected the notion put forth by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that collateral deaths are a normal part of war.
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East raised concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s silence on the matter, suggesting that it could allow Israel to escape accountability for the death of a Canadian aid worker.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary have not yet issued public statements in response to the case.
The decision by the Israeli military has been particularly criticized as it coincided with World Humanitarian Day, with Australian Foreign Minister Wong deeming it “especially insulting.” She announced plans to summon Israel’s ambassador to Australia and convey the government’s views directly to Israel.
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