Israel’s military has determined that there was no criminal wrongdoing in the incident that resulted in the death of a Canadian citizen and six other aid workers in Gaza two years ago.
The military prosecutor in Israel stated that after reviewing the April 2024 airstrikes on a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles, it opted not to pursue a criminal investigation. The airstrikes, which targeted the convoy carrying aid workers from various countries including Canada, Palestine, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, claimed the life of Jacob Flickinger, a military veteran from Quebec.
Reacting to the decision, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand expressed strong disapproval, labeling it as “unacceptable.” She highlighted significant shortcomings in the strike operation and criticized the closure of the case without adequate accountability, emphasizing the need to safeguard humanitarian workers in conflict zones.
World Central Kitchen, an organization involved in food distribution in Gaza, refuted the military’s version of events, calling for an independent investigation and disputing the military’s claims regarding the incident.
The timing of the decision drew sharp criticism from Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who condemned the lack of accountability for the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom. Wong underscored that the Israeli Defense Forces had acknowledged serious failures and errors related to the incident, branding the decision as “especially insulting” given the announcement coincided with World Humanitarian Day.
In a separate development, the Israeli military also announced its decision not to pursue criminal action in the cases of four Doctors Without Borders staffers killed in separate incidents in November 2023 and February 2024.
Following the tragic events involving the World Central Kitchen workers, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for an independent and transparent investigation beyond the Israeli military’s internal review. Trudeau strongly criticized the notion that collateral deaths are acceptable in war, particularly highlighting the sacrifice and dedication of aid workers operating in perilous environments.
The decision by the Israeli military has sparked outrage and calls for further action by various parties, including advocacy groups and government officials from affected countries.