Israel has determined that its military did not commit a criminal act in the incident where a Canadian and six other aid workers were killed in Gaza two years ago. The military prosecutor of Israel stated that they have decided not to pursue a criminal investigation into the April 2024 airstrikes in Gaza that targeted a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles. The airstrike resulted in the deaths of Jacob Flickinger, a military veteran from Quebec, a Palestinian, and aid workers from the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand expressed her displeasure with the decision, calling it “unacceptable.” She highlighted serious deficiencies in the strike and emphasized the need for accountability to provide closure to the families of the victims. Anand stressed the importance of protecting humanitarian workers in conflict zones and reiterated Canada’s stance on upholding international humanitarian law.
World Central Kitchen, known for distributing food in Gaza, confirmed that they had coordinated with the military regarding the convoy’s movements. Despite the visible logos on the vehicles indicating their affiliation with the organization, the convoy was heavily damaged by the airstrikes.
The military’s statement on Wednesday revealed that the individuals in the vehicles were mistakenly identified as armed Hamas operatives. While acknowledging serious failures in the operation, it concluded that there was no evidence of criminal misconduct by the commanders involved. Following this, World Central Kitchen disputed the military’s account, calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
The decision sparked outrage in Australia, where the foreign minister summoned the Israeli ambassador. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticized the lack of sufficient accountability for the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom. Wong highlighted the IDF’s admissions of procedural failures and errors in decision-making leading to the tragic incident.
The announcement of the decision on World Humanitarian Day was deemed “especially insulting” by the Australian minister. Australian authorities indicated that further steps would be considered in response to the Israeli military’s stance on the matter.
In the aftermath of the 2024 incident, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the events. Trudeau emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, pushing back against any normalization of collateral deaths in conflict situations. He stressed the importance of protecting aid workers who risk their lives in dangerous environments to provide essential assistance.
Before Anand’s statement, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East raised concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s silence on the matter, suggesting that it could allow Israel to evade accountability for the death of a Canadian aid worker without repercussions.