IDF Admits Mistake In Strike Killing WCK Aid Workers

• IDF strike on WCK aid workers was a violation of procedures.

• Mistakenly targeted WCK vehicles, believing they carried Hamas terrorists.

• IDF failed to properly identify vehicles as belonging to WCK.

Australian World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid worker Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom at a WCK kitchen, at a location given as Deir Al-Balah

Reuters

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have admitted that a recent strike which resulted in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers was a violation of their procedures and should not have occurred. The IDF released a report on Friday detailing the incident, which they described as a 'grave mistake.'

According to the IDF report, the incident occurred when IDF forces identified gunmen on one of the aid trucks and mistakenly assumed that there were additional gunmen in the accompanying vehicles. The report stated that after the aid had been unloaded from the warehouse, a commander mistakenly believed that the vehicles were carrying Hamas terrorists.

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Mistakenly targeted WCK vehicles, believing they carried Hamas terrorists.

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IDF strike on WCK aid workers was a violation of procedures.

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IDF failed to properly identify vehicles as belonging to WCK.

The IDF acknowledged that their forces failed to properly identify the vehicles as belonging to WCK and based their decision to target the vehicles on a misidentification of them as carrying Hamas operatives. This led to the strikes on the three WCK vehicles, resulting in the tragic deaths of the aid workers.

The IDF stated that these strikes were a clear violation of their Standard Operating Procedures and should not have taken place. The IDF expressed regret for the incident and emphasized the need for better communication and identification protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.