April
5, 2024
Conclusion of the investigation of the General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism into the incident in which seven employees of the World Central Kitchen were killed during a humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip
The
investigation of the grave incident in which seven workers of the
World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in the Gaza Strip as a result
of IDF fire was carried out by the Joint Chiefs of Staff's
Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM), led by MG (res.) Yoav
Har-Even, was presented yesterday (Thursday) to the IDF Chief of the
General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi.
After
presenting the findings of the investigation to the Chief of the
General Staff, MG (res.) Har-Even presented them to the WCK
organization and reiterated the IDF’s deep sorrow about the
incident. The findings were also presented in briefings to
international ambassadors and journalists.
The
event occurred on April 1, 2024, during an operation to transfer
humanitarian aid from the WCK to the Gaza Strip. The investigation
found that the forces identified a gunman on one of the aid trucks,
following which they identified an additional gunman. After the
vehicles left the warehouse where the aid had been unloaded, one of
the commanders mistakenly assumed that the gunmen were located inside
the accompanying vehicles and that these were Hamas terrorists. The
forces did not identify the vehicles in question as being associated
with WCK. Following a misidentification by the forces, the forces
targeted the three WCK vehicles based on the misclassification of the
event and misidentification of the vehicles as having Hamas
operatives inside them, with the resulting strike leading to the
deaths of seven innocent humanitarian aid workers. The strikes on the
three vehicles were carried out in serious violation of the commands
and IDF Standard Operating Procedures.
The
investigation’s findings indicate that the incident should not have
occurred. Those who approved the strike were convinced that they were
targeting armed Hamas operatives and not WCK employees. 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.
After
being presented with, and considering the investigation's findings,
the IDF Chief of the General Staff decided that the following command
measures will be taken: the brigade fire support commander, an
officer with the rank of major, will be dismissed from his position.
The brigade chief of staff, an officer with the rank of colonel in
reserve, will be dismissed from his position. Additionally, the
brigade commander and the 162nd Division commander will be formally
reprimanded. The IDF Chief of Staff decided to formally reprimand the
commander of the Southern Command for his overall responsibility for
the incident.
The
IDF takes seriously the grave incident that claimed the lives of
seven innocent humanitarian aid workers. We express our deep sorrow
for the loss and send our condolences to the families and the WCK
organization. We consider the vital humanitarian activity of
international aid organizations to be of utmost importance, and we
will continue to work to coordinate and assist their activities,
while ensuring their safety and safeguarding their lives.
The
IDF once again emphasizes its commitment to fighting against the
Hamas terrorist organization, while upholding the values of the IDF,
the laws of war, and avoiding harming civilians. The IDF will learn
the lessons of the incident and will incorporate them into the IDF's
ongoing operations.
Again the world reacted in a way that the Likud Government had perhaps not anticipated. Many of its allies saw this statement as merely rapping the knuckles of the IDF soldiers involved and glibly moving on with its disproportionally destructive war aimed at ethnic cleansing in occupied Palestinian territory.
On the same day the UN Human Rights Council issued this press release:
Human Rights Council Adopts Five Resolutions, including a Text Calling foran Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza, Urging States to Prevent theContinued Forcible Transfer of Palestinians Within or From Gaza, andCalling on States to Cease the Sale or Transfer of Arms to Israel
05
April 2024
The
Human Rights Council this morning adopted five resolutions, including
a text in which it demanded that Israel immediately lift its blockade
on the Gaza Strip and all other forms of collective punishment,
calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The Council called upon
all States to take immediate action to prevent the continued forcible
transfer of Palestinians within or from Gaza, and to cease the sale,
transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military
equipment to Israel.
The
five resolutions concerned the human rights situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, realising the rights
of the child and inclusive social protection, the right of the
Palestinian people to self-determination, human rights in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and Israeli settlements in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied
Syrian Golan.
Concerning
the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability
and justice, the Council adopted by a vote of 28 in favour, 6 against
and 13 abstentions (as orally revised) a resolution in which it
demanded that Israel, the occupying power, end its occupation of the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.
The Council also demanded that Israel immediately lift its blockade
on the Gaza Strip and all other forms of collective punishment, and
called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The Council called upon
all States to take immediate action to prevent the continued forcible
transfer of Palestinians within or from Gaza. It called upon all
States to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions
and other military equipment to Israel and requested the Independent
International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian
territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel to report on both the
direct and indirect transfer or sale of arms, munitions, parts,
components and dual use items to Israel, the occupying power, and to
present its report to the Council at its fifty-ninth session. [my yellow highlighting]
The
Council also requested the Office of the High Commissioner to deploy
the additional necessary personnel, expertise and logistics to the
occupied Palestinian territory country office to document and pursue
accountability for violations of international human rights law and
international humanitarian law committed in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including East Jerusalem. The Council requested the High
Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the implementation of the
present resolution to the Council at its fifty-eighth session, to be
followed by an interactive dialogue.
As
for the rights of the child: realising the rights of the child and
inclusive social protection, the
Council requested the High Commissioner to prepare a report on child
rights mainstreaming across the United Nations, including on the
implementation of the Guidance Note of the Secretary-General, and to
present the report to the Council at its fifty-ninth session. It also
requested the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the rights of
the child and violations of the human rights of children in armed
conflict and to present the report to the Human Rights Council at its
sixtieth session. It requested the Office of the High Commissioner to
organise the annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child in
2026 on the theme of the rights of the child and violations of the
human rights of children in armed conflicts.
On
the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the
Council adopted by a vote of 42 in favour, 2 against and 3
abstentions, a resolution in which it called upon Israel, the
occupying power, to immediately end its occupation of the occupied
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and to reverse and
redress any impediments to the political independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Palestine, and reaffirmed its support
for the solution of two States, Palestine and Israel, living side by
side in peace and security. The Council urged all States to adopt
measures as required to promote the realisation of the right to
self-determination of the Palestinian people and decided to remain
seized of the matter.
Regarding
human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, adopted by a vote of 29 in
favour, 14 against and 4 abstentions, the Council demanded that
Israel immediately cease all settlement-related plans and activities
in the occupied Syrian Golan and determined that all legislative and
administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel
that seek to alter the character and legal status of the occupied
Syrian Golan are null and void. It requested the Secretary-General to
disseminate the resolution as widely as possible and to report on
this matter to the Council at its fifty-eighth session.
As
for Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, the
Council adopted by a vote of 36 in favour, 3 against and 8
abstentions (as orally revised) a resolution in which it called upon
Israel to comply with all its obligations under international law and
to cease immediately all actions causing the alteration of the
character, status and demographic composition of the occupied
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied
Syrian Golan, and to end without delay its occupation of the
territories occupied since 1967. The Council requested the
Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel to
prepare a report on the identities of settlers, as well as settler
groups and their members, that have engaged in or continue to engage
in acts of terror, violence or intimidation against Palestinian
civilians and the actions taken by Israel and by third States, and to
present the report to the Council at its fifty-ninth session.
The
webcast of the Human Rights Council meetings can be found here. All
meeting summaries can be found here. Documents and reports related to the Human Rights Council’s fifty-fifth regular session can be found here.....
Action
on Resolution under Agenda Item Two on the Annual Report of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Reports of the
Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
In
a resolution (A/HRC/55/L.30) on the Human rights situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the
obligation to ensure accountability and justice, adopted by a vote of
28 in favour, 6 against and 13 abstentions (as orally revised), the
Council demands that Israel, the occupying power, end its occupation
of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East
Jerusalem; also demands that Israel immediately lift its blockade on
the Gaza Strip and all other forms of collective punishment; calls
for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for immediate emergency
humanitarian access and assistance, and for the urgent restoration of
basic necessities to the Palestinian population in Gaza; calls upon
all States to take immediate action to prevent the continued forcible
transfer of Palestinians within or from Gaza; calls upon all States
to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and
other military equipment to Israel; urges all States to continue to
provide emergency assistance to the Palestinian people and calls upon
all States to ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East receives predictable
sustained and sufficient funding to fulfil its mandate; invites the
General Assembly to recommend that the Government of Switzerland
promptly convene the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the
Fourth Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the
occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem; requests
the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel to report
on both the direct and indirect transfer or sale of arms, munitions,
parts, components and dual use items to Israel, the occupying power,
and to analyse the legal consequences of these transfers, and to
present its report to the Council at its fifty-ninth session;
requests the Secretary-General to ensure the availability of all
additional resources, including through voluntary resources,
necessary to enable the Commission of Inquiry to carry out its
mandate; requests the Office of the High Commissioner to deploy the
additional necessary personnel, expertise and logistics to the
occupied Palestinian territory country office to document and pursue
accountability for violations of international human rights law and
international humanitarian law committed in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including East Jerusalem; and requests the High
Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the implementation of the
present resolution to the Council at its fifty-eighth session, to be
followed by an interactive dialogue; and decides to remain seized of
the matter.
The
results of the vote are as follows:
In
favour (28): Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burundi, Chile,
China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Ghana,
Honduras, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Qatar, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan,
United Arab Emirates, and Viet Nam.
Against (6):
Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, Malawi, Paraguay and United States.
Abstentions
(13): Albania, Benin, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic,
France, Georgia, India, Japan, Lithuania, Montenegro, Netherlands,
and Romania.
In Australia these words were penned in a small daily newsletter and a pithy cartoon drawn......
The
Echidna,
newsletter, 5 April 2024:
Israel
on the brink of becoming a pariah state
Thursday
April 4, 2024
John
Hanscombe
Shit
happens, especially in war. At least that's what Benjamin Netanyahu
tells us with brute insensitivity while admitting the IDF was
responsible for the strike that killed seven aid workers, including
Australian Zomi Frankcom, in Gaza.
Any
comfort for the families of the slain that may have come from the
admission of responsibility evaporated with the caveat the Israeli PM
appended to his wafer thin expression of remorse. But we shouldn't be
surprised, nor should we be shocked.
Netanyahu
has been making poor excuses for the abominable conduct of the war in
Gaza for months now. Every hospital or school obliterated, every air
strike that takes the lives and futures of Palestinians dug out of
the rubble of their crowded homes has been rationalised as the
unfortunate but necessary mechanics of war.
Whatever
high moral ground Israel had after the October 7 Hamas atrocities has
been abandoned. After months systematically levelling Gaza, claiming
more than 30,000 lives in the process and ignoring pleas from the
global community to exercise restraint, the country now teeters on
the brink of becoming another pariah state. Just like those it
routinely condemns.
Many
Israelis know this. They're out on the streets in their thousands
demanding the resignation of Netanyahu because of his mishandling of
the war. They know the chances of seeing hostages returned diminish
every day the relentless bombing continues. Some no doubt wonder if
Netanyahu ever really intended to have the hostages returned or
whether in his ruthless calculus they were always collateral damage.
And
Jewish people around the world are coming to the same realisation.
The Jewish Council of Australia yesterday called on Australia to cut
all military ties with Israel and impose sanctions while the Zionist
Federation of Australia predictably sheeted blame for the
Australian's death on Hamas.
Until
now, I'd been loath to weigh into the Gaza conflict. Nothing I could
do or so say would make any difference and there was the risk of a
pile-on from one side or the other. But I'd encountered the good work
of World Central Kitchen at another catastrophe on the other side of
the world, which somehow made Zomi Frankcom's death seem personal.
Covering
the aftermath of the Lismore floods, I'd come across WCK volunteers
providing meals for the residents of that shattered town. This was no
distant disaster response seen through the lens of the TV news. It
was up close and very real. And the gratitude of the traumatised
flood survivors who gathered to be fed was palpable. [My yellow highlighting]
They
found not only physical sustenance but fellowship as well. Tears
flowed in the troubled eyes of one fellow, who told me his soul was
filled with mud, as he gave thanks to the people like the WCK crew
who had helped him, not just with food but with kinds words and hope.
Now,
the help that was given to Palestinians has been paused, not just by
WCK but by other aid groups who fear for their workers' safety.
Yet
again the innocent suffer. Yet again, shit happens.
