Gaza: Britain, Australia, and Canada have condemned the Israeli military's decision to close its investigation into the April 1, 2024, attack on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid convoy in Gaza that resulted in the killing of seven humanitarian workers.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the three countries issued a statement asserting that the Israeli military had targeted the WCK convoy while it was en route to deliver food to civilians in Gaza, utilizing a drone in an attack that killed seven aid workers, including citizens of the UK and Australia, as well as a Canadian-American national.
The statement emphasized that the three nations have persistently urged Israel to swiftly and thoroughly investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable. They expressed outrage over the military's announcement, made two days prior, that it would not conduct an investigation and had provided no explanation for this decision.
The statement pointed out that the timing of the announcement on World Humanitarian Day is particularly egregious, as the world was honoring the courage and sacrifices of humanitarian workers. It further stated that the decision was insufficient and belated, stressing that the victims and their families deserve justice and accountability. The governments vowed to continue pursuing answers on behalf of the victims.
The countries highlighted that the attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy is just one of numerous incidents in Gaza for which no accountability has been achieved. They underscored that humanitarian workers in Gaza persist in their efforts to assist civilians in dire need, risking their lives under perilous conditions.
The statement reiterated that despite a fragile ceasefire, Gaza remains one of the most dangerous places to deliver aid, with 186 humanitarian workers killed last year. The three countries called on the occupying power to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and to enhance measures ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers. They stressed the necessity of learning lessons from this tragedy.