Israel’s military has determined that its actions in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of a Canadian and six other aid workers, did not amount to a criminal offense. The decision has sparked criticism in Australia, leading to the summoning of the Israeli ambassador by the foreign minister. However, Canada has not yet responded to the report released on Wednesday.
The Israeli military prosecutor announced that no criminal investigation would be pursued regarding the April 2024 airstrikes in Gaza that targeted a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles. Among the casualties was Jacob Flickinger, a military veteran from Quebec, as well as individuals from Palestine, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
The aid organization, known for distributing food in Gaza, had coordinated the convoy’s movements with the military. Despite the vehicles displaying the group’s logo on their roofs, they were destroyed in the airstrikes.
According to a military statement released on Wednesday, the individuals in the vehicles were mistakenly identified as armed Hamas members. The statement concluded that the decisions made by the commanders did not indicate any criminal misconduct, although two officers were relieved of their duties and three others faced reprimand.
In response, World Central Kitchen issued a statement refuting the military’s account of the incident, calling for an independent investigation to clarify the events.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticized the lack of accountability following the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, stating that the removal and reprimands of officers were inadequate. She expressed disappointment that the decision was made public on World Humanitarian Day.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously called for a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident, stressing the need to hold accountable those responsible for the deaths of aid workers. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East expressed concern over the silence of Prime Minister Mark Carney regarding the findings, suggesting that it may allow Israel to avoid consequences for the death of a Canadian aid worker.