2024-04-04T15:29:49+00:00
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/ The World Central Kitchen organization called, on Thursday, for an independent investigation into the killing of 7 of its employees in an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip this week.
In a statement on its official website, the organization called for “the adoption of an independent party to conduct the investigation and determine whether the attacks were carried out intentionally or whether international law was violated.”
The organization considered that “conducting an independent investigation is the only way to determine the truth of what happened during the Israeli attack, and to ensure transparency and accountability for those responsible for the killing of aid workers.”
Israel launched an air strike on Gaza on Tuesday evening, killing 7 relief workers working for the World Central Kitchen organization while they were delivering food aid to civilians.
The attack resulted in the deaths of citizens of Australia, Canada, the United States (dual citizen), Gaza, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
‘It could take weeks’
Israel indicated on Thursday that the army’s investigation into the raid on the organization’s workers could take weeks.
“In the coming weeks, when the results become clear, we will be transparent and share the results with the public,” Israeli government spokeswoman Rakela Karamson said in a press conference.
Independent investigation
The organization revealed that it had asked the governments of Australia, Canada, the United States of America, Poland, and the United Kingdom to join it in calling for an independent investigation, and considered in the statement that:
The attack, which included several strikes and targeted three vehicles carrying civilians, was “military.”
The movements of the vehicles carrying the relief workers were in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli authorities, who were aware of their itinerary, route and humanitarian mission.
The organization asked the Israeli government to preserve all documents, communications, video and audio recordings, and any other materials potentially related to the strikes, to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
An independent investigation is the only way to prevent future attacks on aid workers
Questioning the credibility of the investigation
American officials had confirmed to Politico newspaper their frustration with how Israel had conducted investigations into past incidents, questioning the possibility of resorting to accountability.
One official cited the death of Palestinian-American journalist Sherine Abu Uqleh, whom Israel found was “likely killed by an Israeli soldier,” but no one was punished for her death, and the United States would not definitively place blame on Israel.
The official said that Israel “will do and say whatever is necessary to maintain the status quo and I have little hope that their investigation will be vague or sincere.”
International reactions
Several countries have called on Israel to conduct an immediate and fair investigation to determine responsibility for the World Central Kitchen incident and to protect international humanitarian organizations working in the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on Israel to launch an urgent investigation, present its results, and provide clarification about the attack that led to the killing of aid workers.
In turn, British Foreign Minister David Cameron confirmed that his country had called for an investigation into the accident and to provide a transparent explanation about the accident that killed 3 Britons.