Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Chief Herzi Halevi has issued an apology following a strike that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza. The incident, which Halevi described as a “grave mistake,” has sparked widespread international outrage.
“The strike was a grave mistake. It shouldn’t have happened. There was a misidentification. We are sorry for the unintentional harm to the members of WCK,” Halevi stated.
The convoy, prominently marked with the logo of the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen (WCK), was targeted in the strike, leaving a scene of devastation with a punctured roof and wrecked vehicles, according to news agency AFP.
WCK, known for its efforts in providing aid to displaced Gazans since the beginning of the conflict in October, had just unloaded 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza via maritime routes. The aid workers killed in the strike were returning from a day’s mission when they were attacked.
“These 7 beautiful souls were killed by the IDF in a strike as they were returning from a full day’s mission,” stated WCK CEO Erin Gore. The organization had earlier accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting the aid workers.
“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war,” Gore emphasized in an earlier statement.
The deaths of the aid workers have prompted strong condemnation from global leaders, including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as the governments of Australia and Poland .
