Last Monday’s attack by the Israeli Army on a convoy of the NGO of chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen, was due to a “error” in believing that two armed militiamen from Hamas were traveling in it, so two commanders involved in the operation have been dismissed by the Chief of the General Staff.

This is the conclusion of the independent investigation commissioned to the Mechanism for Investigation and Evaluation of Facts by the Israeli Army, and after it became known, the Chief of the General Staff, Herzi Halevi, has dismissed the brigade’s fire support commander, an officer with the rank of major, and the chief of the brigade, a colonel on reserve.

The commanders of both the brigade and the 162ndª division, which operates in the center of the Strip, have also been admonded.

In addition, Halevi will “formally rebold” the head of the South Command, for “his general responsibility” in the incident.

“We take seriously the serious incident that claimed the lives of seven innocent humanitarian workers. We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the families and the WCK organization,” he said.

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According to that investigation, Israeli forces identified two “gunmen” in the aid trucks while the convoy was heading to a warehouse in Deir al Balah, and when the vehicles left the place after unloading, “one of the commanders mistakenly assumed that the gunmen were inside the vehicles and that they were Hamas terrorists.”

The result of the investigations was presented yesterday to the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, and released this Friday, in which information sessions were also held with ambassadors and diplomatic corps.

“The troops did not identify the vehicles in question as associated with WCK. After an erroneous identification by the forces, they attacked the three vehicles by the NGO, based on the fact that Hamas agents were traveling in them,” the investigation states.

The attack on the humanitarian convoy of the American NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK), claimed the lives of seven of its employees: the Palestinian Saifeddin Ayad Abutaha, the Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom, the Polish Damian Soból, the Canadian-American Jacob Flickinger and the British John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby.

Although it was perfectly identified, the caravan was hit by three missiles fired by a drone, which was “a serious violation of the orders and standard operating procedures of the Israel Defense Forces,” the report concluded.

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“The findings of the investigation indicate that the incident should not have occurred. Those who approved the attack were convinced that their target was armed agents of Hamas and not employees of WCK,” said the FFAM, which also pointed out “errors in decision-making.”

The Israeli Army assured, on the other hand, that it considers the activity of humanitarian agencies in the Strip “of vital importance” and pledged to guarantee their security.

For the NGO World Central Kitchen, Israel “cannot credibly investigate its own failure” in the Gaza strip.

In a statement from the organization founded by Spanish chef José Andrés, it is demanded “the creation of an independent commission to investigate the murders of our colleagues from the WCK.”

“It is not enough to simply try to avoid more humanitarian deaths, which are now approaching 200,” José Andrés says in the statement.

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“It is necessary to protect all civilians and it is necessary to feed and protect all the innocent people of Gaza. And all the hostages must be released.”

For her part, Erin Gore, executive director of the NGO, pointed out that the apologies of the Israeli Army “for the scandalous murder of our colleagues represents little consolation.”

However, WCK highlighted the “important steps” taken by the Israeli Army by recognizing its responsibility and its mistakes in the deadly attack and by taking disciplinary measures against those in command.