Airstrike in Gaza kills aid workers, raises controversy over target identification

In Gaza, the civil defense agency has reported the death of three Palestinian aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK) following an Israeli air strike on Saturday.

The strike, which targeted a vehicle in Khan Yunis, also left two others dead, according to civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal.

The Israeli military, however, claimed it had targeted a “terrorist” involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which claimed over 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians.

The army stated that the vehicle struck was “unmarked” and had not been pre-coordinated for aid transport. The Israeli military is investigating the claim that the individual targeted was a WCK employee.

Bassal countered by asserting that the jeep bore a clearly visible WCK logo and was unmistakably marked as an aid vehicle.

This incident follows an earlier controversial air strike in April, which killed seven WCK workers, prompting the Israeli military to admit to “grave mistakes” and violations of engagement protocols.

Israel’s retaliatory actions since October have resulted in 44,382 fatalities in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, figures deemed reliable by the United Nations. The deaths have drawn widespread criticism over the heavy toll on civilians, including aid workers.