In response to an investigation into the deaths of seven relief workers in an airstrike in Gaza this week, Israel dismissed two officers and publicly chastised senior brass. According to the investigation, when Israeli soldiers targeted the three World Central Kitchen aid group vans late on Monday night, they thought they were striking Hamas gunmen. It also discovered that conventional protocols had not been adhered to.
The Repercussions: Israel Terminates Two Officers
This week, the murders of seven humanitarian workers—among them were British, Australian, Polish, and dual U.S.-Canadian citizens—as well as a Palestinian coworker, incited indignation around the world. U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to change U.S. policy toward Israel in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday unless Israel lessened harm to civilians in Gaza, which had relied on aid even before the conflict began, which lasted six months.
"The strike on the aid vehicles is a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures," the Israeli military stated in a statement. Senior commanders received formal reprimands and two officers were removed as a result.
American Response
Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States said on Friday that Washington was closely examining Israel's investigation and would closely monitor any actions Israel was taking in reaction to the incident. The Biden administration's hinted policy change in favor of Israel emphasizes the mounting international pressure on the nation to reduce the number of civilian deaths during its military actions in Gaza.
Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis
The already serious humanitarian situation in Gaza has been made worse by the strike against relief workers. Since the violence started six months ago, the area has become more and more dependent on aid, even before the present crisis. The already precarious supply of humanitarian aid to the area has been further interrupted by the loss of the World Central Kitchen aid group's vans and staff.
The admission by the Israeli military of serious mistakes in the attack that claimed the lives of seven aid workers in Gaza, along with the subsequent reprimand of senior commanders and the dismissal of two officers, have infuriated the world and aroused fears that the Biden administration may change its stance on Israel. The tragedy has brought attention to Gaza's deteriorating humanitarian situation, which has made the region heavily dependent on outside assistance.
The Repercussions: Israel Terminates Two Officers
This week, the murders of seven humanitarian workers—among them were British, Australian, Polish, and dual U.S.-Canadian citizens—as well as a Palestinian coworker, incited indignation around the world. U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to change U.S. policy toward Israel in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday unless Israel lessened harm to civilians in Gaza, which had relied on aid even before the conflict began, which lasted six months.
"The strike on the aid vehicles is a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures," the Israeli military stated in a statement. Senior commanders received formal reprimands and two officers were removed as a result.
American Response
Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States said on Friday that Washington was closely examining Israel's investigation and would closely monitor any actions Israel was taking in reaction to the incident. The Biden administration's hinted policy change in favor of Israel emphasizes the mounting international pressure on the nation to reduce the number of civilian deaths during its military actions in Gaza.
Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis
The already serious humanitarian situation in Gaza has been made worse by the strike against relief workers. Since the violence started six months ago, the area has become more and more dependent on aid, even before the present crisis. The already precarious supply of humanitarian aid to the area has been further interrupted by the loss of the World Central Kitchen aid group's vans and staff.
The admission by the Israeli military of serious mistakes in the attack that claimed the lives of seven aid workers in Gaza, along with the subsequent reprimand of senior commanders and the dismissal of two officers, have infuriated the world and aroused fears that the Biden administration may change its stance on Israel. The tragedy has brought attention to Gaza's deteriorating humanitarian situation, which has made the region heavily dependent on outside assistance.