Israeli Military Dismisses 2 Officers After Gaza Air Strike Kills 7 US Aid Workers

The Israeli military fired two senior officers and formally reprimanded senior commanders following an inquiry into the killing of seven aid workers in an air strike in Gaza earlier this week.

The Israeli military said it had dismissed a brigade chief of staff with the rank of colonel and a brigade fire support officer with the rank of major, and formally reprimanded senior officers, including the general at the head of the Southern Command.

The inquiry report mentioned serious errors and breaches of procedure, the Israeli military said. As per the inquiry report, the Israeli forces mistakenly believed they were attacking Hamas gunmen when drones hit the three vehicles of the World Central Kitchen aid group on Monday night.

“The strike on the aid vehicles is a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures,” the Israeli military said in a statement issued on Friday.

The seven aid workers killed in the air attack included citizens of Britain, Australia and Poland, a dual US-Canadian national and a Palestinian colleague. This incident stirred global outrage.