The killing of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen in Gaza who were trying to bring relief to Palestinians has led to global outrage and international pressure on Israel to open new points of entry for humanitarian aid. While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially described the attack as an isolated incident, the United Nations reports that a total of 224 humanitarian aid workers have been killed since the war began. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have acknowledged the mistake and removed two senior officers from their positions, but aid agencies argue that there are systemic failings in the IDF’s approach to protecting humanitarian workers.
The IDF investigation revealed that the officers made three mistakes in targeting the aid convoy, resulting in the deaths of the aid workers. The situation has raised concerns about the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for such deadly errors to be repeated. Other fatal incidents involving aid workers, mostly Palestinians, have not attracted the same level of outrage or attention. Attacks on aid workers have curtailed the delivery of much-needed aid to Gaza’s population on the brink of starvation, with several organizations suspending operations due to safety concerns.
Aid agencies depend on the deconfliction process to operate in war zones to prevent unintentional attacks. Despite the notification of their movements to COGAT, the official Israeli government body that liaises with aid agencies, aid workers have been repeatedly targeted. These attacks are either seen as intentional or indicative of reckless incompetence, highlighting the failure of deconfliction measures. The lack of political cost for Israel in targeting humanitarian workers raises questions about the effectiveness of mechanisms for protecting aid agencies.
These incidents have impacted various aid organizations, including World Central Kitchen, American Near East Refugee Aid, and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières. Attacks on these groups have resulted in casualties, including deaths of aid workers and their family members. Despite compliance with deconfliction procedures, the Israeli military has failed to provide satisfactory explanations for these attacks. The ongoing destruction and hostilities in Gaza have posed significant challenges for aid deliveries, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
In response to the IDF’s initial findings, World Central Kitchen expressed doubts about the credibility of the military’s investigation. The organization argued that the IDF had used deadly force without following its protocols, chain of command, or rules of engagement. The level of violence towards aid workers, as well as the lack of accountability and transparency from the IDF, has raised concerns about the safety and security of humanitarian operations in Gaza. The consistent failures to protect aid workers have led to a dire situation in Gaza, where humanitarian assistance is desperately needed to alleviate the suffering of the population.
