Key facts
- Britain, Australia, and Canada jointly criticized Israel's decision to close the investigation into the World Central Kitchen convoy strike.
- The three nations called the decision "shameful" and stated victims deserve justice and accountability.
- Seven aid workers, including citizens from the UK, Australia, Poland, and a dual US-Canadian citizen, were killed in the April 2024 strike.
- Poland has summoned Israel's ambassador and is conducting its own investigation into the death of a Polish volunteer.
- The Israeli military concluded that commanders' decisions did not warrant criminal misconduct investigations, though two officers were dismissed and three reprimanded.
Britain, Australia, and Canada have jointly condemned Israel's decision not to open a criminal investigation into the April 2024 airstrikes that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza, labeling the move "shameful." The countries stated that the victims and their families deserve justice and accountability, emphasizing that Gaza remains a dangerous place for humanitarian workers.
In a joint statement, the nations asserted that "the World Central Kitchen attack is one of countless incidents in Gaza where there has been no accountability." They highlighted that the decision was announced on World Humanitarian Day, making it "particularly egregious."
The Polish government also voiced disappointment and called for cooperation with Polish investigations into the death of Damian Soból, a Polish volunteer among the casualties. Poland summoned Israel's ambassador and stated it "does not accept the perpetrators’ evasion of legal and moral responsibility."
World Central Kitchen, which had coordinated its movements with the Israeli military, stated that the decision was "inconsistent with the full truth and deeply offensive." The IDF claimed it mistook the aid vehicles for Hamas operatives and that the convoy had deviated from its coordinated route, but concluded that commanders' decisions did not warrant criminal misconduct investigations. Two officers were dismissed and three others reprimanded following the incident.