Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi expressed deep regret over the tragic incident involving the bombing of a humanitarian convoy in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers, drawing widespread international condemnation.
In a video statement posted on the IDF’s official account, Halevi clarified that the airstrike was not intended to harm the WCK aid workers but was a result of misidentification during complex nighttime conditions in the midst of conflict, emphasizing that it was a grave mistake that should not have occurred.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also extended sincere apologies to WCK founder Jose Andres, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and expressing deep sorrow over the unintentional harm caused to the aid workers, following criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s characterization of the incident as a tragic and unintended consequence of wartime operations.
The media reported that the Israeli Defense Forces intentionally targeted an aid convoy, suspecting the presence of a Hamas operative among the group. The convoy, clearly marked with the WCK logo, was identified by an IDF unit as having an armed individual, leading to suspicions of terrorist activity.
The international community, including staunch allies of Israel like the US and the UK, as well as other nations with citizens among the casualties, condemned the incident. Israel’s conflict with Hamas escalated following a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants, resulting in a significant loss of life and hostages taken. The ongoing military campaign has resulted in a high death toll, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.
