Israel has determined that its military did not commit a criminal act in the incident that resulted in the deaths of a Canadian and six other aid workers in Gaza two years ago. The decision was made following April 2024 airstrikes on a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles, which claimed the lives of Jacob Flickinger, a military veteran from Quebec, along with individuals from Palestine, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, stating that the strike revealed serious failures and emphasized the need to hold those responsible accountable. She stressed the importance of upholding international humanitarian law and ensuring justice for the victims and their families.
World Central Kitchen, the organization distributing food in Gaza, disputed the military’s account of the incident, calling for an independent investigation to clarify the events surrounding the convoy attack.
The military’s statement mentioned that the individuals in the vehicles were mistakenly identified as armed Hamas operatives, leading to the airstrike. Despite this, it was concluded that the decisions made by the commanders did not indicate criminal misconduct. The incident resulted in the removal of two officers from their positions and the reprimand of three others.
The Australian government expressed outrage over the decision, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticizing the lack of adequate accountability for the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom. Wong highlighted the errors in decision-making that led to the tragic outcome and described the timing of the decision as particularly insensitive, coinciding with World Humanitarian Day.
In response to the incident, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a thorough and independent investigation to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the attack. Trudeau emphasized the need to prioritize the safety of humanitarian workers operating in conflict zones and condemned the notion that collateral deaths are acceptable in warfare.
The Israeli military also announced its decision not to pursue criminal action in the cases of four Doctors Without Borders staff members who were killed in separate incidents in November 2023 and February 2024. The handling of these cases has sparked further calls for transparency and accountability in addressing such tragedies.
Prior to Anand’s statement, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East expressed concerns that the lack of response from Prime Minister Mark Carney regarding the findings could potentially allow Israel to evade accountability for the death of a Canadian aid worker.