The World Central Kitchen drone strikes occurred on 1 April 2024, when Israeli drones targeted a three-car convoy belonging to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) in the Gaza Strip, killing seven aid workers.[1][2] The attack occurred despite the WCK having coordinated their route with the Israeli military, which both parties have acknowledged.[3][4] The workers had been overseeing the transfer of a shipment of food from a makeshift pier to a warehouse some distance away in the northern Gaza Strip, which has been pushed close to famine by Israel's invasion and blockade during the Israel–Hamas war.[5][3]
The attack occurred three days after a unanimous ICJ ruling in the ongoing Genocide Convention case that ordered Israel to ensure the unhindered flow of aid into Gaza.[6] The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that their drone operators fired three missiles in five minutes at three of the WCK's cars, with some survivors of the first strike boarding the second car, which was then hit by a second missile, and some survivors of the second strike boarding the third car, which was in turn struck by a third missile.[3] All seven aid workers were killed, and their bodies were sent to Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital. They held Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish, and dual American-Canadian citizenships.[5]
Israel claimed responsibility for the killings, and its military launched an investigation into the incident, which led to the dismissal of two officers.[3] The investigation was rejected as lacking credibility by the WCK, which stated that the IDF cannot investigate its own wrongdoings.[7] WCK founder, Spanish chef José Andrés, has said Israel attacked the convoy "systematically" and "deliberately".[8] WCK called for an independent, third-party investigation into the attacks including whether they were carried out intentionally or otherwise violated international law.[9][10]
The attack drew widespread international condemnation, including by Australia, Qatar, Ireland, Egypt, Poland, China, the Holy See, the European Union, and the United States.[11][12] The attack led the World Central Kitchen to pause its operations in the Gaza Strip, along with other humanitarian and aid organizations operating there.[13] Statements made by the Israeli ambassador in Poland on the incident led to a diplomatic spat between the two countries.[14] The event led to widespread allegations from political scientists, commentators, and genocide scholars that Israel is deliberately using starvation as a weapon of war, which is a war crime.[12]
Three days before the killings the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had ruled unanimously, in response to a second South African request for additional provisional measures in the ongoing Genocide Convention case, that Israel must enable the unhindered flow of aid into Gaza and act "without delay" to allow the "provision... of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance".[6]. In the ruling the ICJ said Gaza was "no longer facing only a risk of famine" but "famine is setting in" and that, according to UN observers, 31 people, including 27 children, had already died of malnutrition and dehydration.[6]
Two days before the drone strikes, a car of the WCK was hit by an IDF sniper. The WCK filed a complaint with Israel over this incident and demanded guaranteeing safety of their workers.[26]
Incident
On 1 April 2024, targeted Israeli drone strikes killed seven WCK aid workers, who were travelling in three of the WCK's cars in the Gaza Strip.[1][2] Sky News estimates that the strikes occurred between 10.30 and 11 pm.[27] Since the wreckages of the cars were around 2.5km (1.6mi) apart, The Washington Post reported that this indicated that some of the cars were able to continue driving after the attack began, and Financial Times concluded that the cars were "hit separately".[28][29]
World Central Kitchen said that it had coordinated its movements with the Israeli Defense Force when the convoy was hit.[30] WCK said the strike occurred in spite of vehicle logos and "coordinating movements" with Israeli forces in the "deconflicted zone".[31]
Haaretz, citing Israeli defense sources, described that after a drone missile hit one World Central Kitchen car, some of this car's passengers boarded another World Central Kitchen car, which "continued to drive and even notified the people responsible that they were attacked, but, seconds later", this car was also hit by a drone missile; finally the third car picked up some of the wounded from the second car, then a third drone missile struck the third car.[26]
Victims
Seven people were killed; they were recovered by the Palestine Red Crescent Society in a "challenging operation" and taken to Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.[32] The victims were seen wearing protective gear showing the charity's logo. They were taken to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in southern Gaza to be evacuated to Egypt.[33][34]
Among the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were confirmed British, Australian, Polish, Palestinian and dual American-Canadian nationals.[5][23][35] The three British victims worked for Solace Global, a security company based in Poole, Dorset, England.[36]
The casualties included:
Saif Abu Taha (Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha), a 26-year-old Palestinian local from Rafah, who had worked as a driver for WCK since the start of the year.[34][37]
Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, a 43-year-old Australian national.[40][37]
James Henderson, a 33-year-old British national who had served in the Royal Marines, he was a private security contractor with Solace Global.[37][41]
John Antony Chapman, a 57-year-old British national who had served in the Royal Marines, he was a private security contractor with Solace Global.[37][41]
James Kirby, a 47-year-old British national.[42] He was a former soldier and a private security contractor with Solace Global.[37]
Two Israeli soldiers were fired for their participation in the killings. The most senior of the two is commander Nochi Mandel, a West Bank settler and "religious nationalist".[44] In January 2024, Mandel, along with 130 other IDF reserve officers, signed an open letter imploring that Gaza be deprived of humanitarian aid and that "humanitarian supplies and the operation of hospitals inside Gaza City" not be allowed.[44]
Leading UK barrister Michael Mansfield reckoned the letter "is plainly relevant to a particular state of mind" of those behind the bombings, indicating that "the target of the Israeli army is [not] primarily Hamas but Gaza as a whole by weaponising aid under siege conditions."[44]
Investigations
In its initial response, the IDF did not confirm whether it conducted the airstrike, and instead said it would open an investigation.[45] Several hours later,[45] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the Israeli military had killed the seven "innocent" aid workers, saying it was "unintentional".[46]
On 5 April, edited footage of the attack was shown to reporters, but it did not show the moment the convoy was struck. The complete video has not been released publicly.[47]
Bellingcat analyzed the car wreckage and concluded that the vehicles bore "the hallmarks of a precision strike by inert or low-yield missiles", thus confirming that an "Israeli airstrike" was responsible as "only the IDF has the capability to conduct" precision strikes in the local area.[48] The first targeted car was geolocated at 31.4118, 34.3231;[coord 1] while the second was geolocated 800 meters (0.5mi) away at 31.4168, 34.3290;[coord 2] and the third at 31.4005, 34.3115[coord 3] around 1,600 meters (1.0mi) away from the first vehicle.[48] The first two locations of the vehicles were on a road identified by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as being an "Accessible Road for Humanitarian Aid," while the third was in a field immediately next to this road.[48] Bellingcat further concluded that it was "likely" that the World Central Kitchen markings on at least one of the car roofs "would have been visible from above when the strike was carried out" depending on the imaging capabilities of the system used.[48]
Al-Jazeera Sanad analyzed "open-source information, witness testimonies, and images from the site", concluding that the Israeli Defense Forces' attacks were "intentional", having "targeted three vehicles belonging to WCK, one at a time", with the damage to the second and third cars "suggesting that the cars were targeted from the air".[49] The WCK markings on the cars led Al-Jazeera Sanad to conclude that WCK "were in compliance and there had been prior coordination between WCK and the Israeli army about the movements".[49] An eyewitness to the first strike, Hasan al-Shorbagi, said that the injured from the first strike were transferred to a second armoured car to continue travelling.[49]
The BBC cited two weapons experts analyzing the car wreckages to conclude that the cars were likely struck by drone missiles.[50] The BBC's own analysis of the distance between the three vehicles indicated that multiple strikes occurred.[50]
CNN reported that the Israeli attack "appears to have consisted of multiple precision strikes", citing a weapons researcher stating that the result "seems consistent with munitions deployed" by drones.[51]
Haaretz quoted one Israeli defense source as saying that "the units in the field decide to launch attacks without any preparation, in cases that have nothing to do with protecting our forces."[26] Further citing Israeli defense sources, Haaretz reported that the destroyed cars "were clearly marked on the roof and sides" as belonging to the World Central Kitchen, and had "travelled along a route preapproved and coordinated with the IDF", but "the war room of the unit responsible for security of the route ordered the drone operators to attack", due to "suspicion that a terrorist was travelling with the convoy"; the supposed terrorist was "an armed man" in the aid truck being escorted by the cars to a food warehouse in Deir al-Balah; the cars had left the aid truck behind at the warehouse, and the "armed man did not leave the warehouse", but Israeli strikes from an Elbit Hermes 450 drone were still ordered on the cars.[26]
IDF investigation
The IDF investigation was led by Major General (ret.) Yoav Har-Even, president and CEO of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems,[44] and on 4 April 2024 reported their initial investigatory findings regarding the incident.[3] The IDF admitted that the WCK did coordinate their plans for the night with the IDF, but claimed that internally within the IDF, these plans were not communicated to the IDF's operational forces.[3][4] The IDF claimed that before the incident, the WCK cars had escorted an aid truck that had a gunman on its roof that fired a gun.[3] A BBC reporter said IDF's evidence for this claim was a "blurry" video that it had not released publicly.[3] The IDF then claimed they tried to contact the WCK but were unable to; BBC News commented that in the Gaza Strip, phone communication is "patchy" and the IDF itself has prohibited aid agencies from using radios.[3] A second gunman was spotted at the warehouse joining the first gunman, leading to the drone operators assuming that they were of Hamas, claimed the IDF.[52] As a result, according to the IDF, the IDF drone operators believed that the WCK cars were being used by Hamas militants, and further suspected that they saw a person entering a WCK car with "a rifle but at the end of the day it was a bag", in a "misclassification".[3] The IDF claimed that the drone operators believed that the WCK aid workers had remained at the warehouse with the aid truck, instead of leaving in the cars.[52] The IDF additionally claimed that the drone operators could not see the WCK cars' markings at night, with BBC News commenting that the "drone footage also appears to confirm that".[3] This assessment was based on "somewhat blurry" video footage shown at a press briefing but not released to the public.[3]
Hence, according to the IDF, its drone operators fired three missiles at the WCK's cars, destroying the cars one by one between 23:09 to 23:13, despite two surviving aid workers of the first strike boarding the second car, which was then hit by a second missile, and some survivors of the second strike boarding the third car, which was in turn struck by a third missile; with the result being that all seven aid workers were killed by the IDF strikes.[3][53] The IDF claimed that an IDF colonel and an IDF major approved the order for a drone attack with no military lawyer present, but the second strike was done with no updated approval.[52] The IDF investigatory result was that while "there was no information on gunmen in the second and third vehicles, they too were attacked, within minutes of each other, for no real reason ... The attack on the three vehicles was carried out in serious violation of the relevant orders and instructions."[54] The IDF has dismissed a major who led the fire support team, as well as a colonel who was a brigade chief of staff.[3] The IDF also reprimanded the Southern Command divisional commander, brigade commander and general in charge.[3]
Response to IDF investigation
WCK rejected the IDF's investigation as lacking credibility, with the WCK's founder, José Andrés, saying in a statement that: "The IDF cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza. It's not enough to simply try to avoid further humanitarian deaths, which have now approached close to 200. All civilians need to be protected, and all innocent people in Gaza need to be fed and safe. And all hostages must be released."[7] Andrés in an interview with ABC News contested the IDF's claim of poor vision, insisting that the brightly colored logos on their white cars could be seen by those drones even in the dark of night.[55]
The Telegraph wrote that the investigation sparked "claims of bias": it was led by "president and CEO of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems" and "the IDF is one of Rafael's biggest buyers".[44]The Guardian reported that the investigation was hurriedly completed and that it had failed to answer important questions including why Israeli commanders violated their military's operational rules, and why the soldiers were unaware that humanitarian cars were operating in the area with Israeli permission. It further added that the investigation's findings will likely renew skepticism over the Israeli military's decision-making processes, as aid groups, human rights organisations and Palestinians have repeatedly accused Israel of reckless firing, which Israel denies.[7] Speaking to Politico, an unnamed U.S. official stated Israel will "do and say whatever is necessary to maintain the status quo and I have little hope their investigation will be transparent or honest".[56]
International law scholar Douglas Guilfoyle writes that the attack "was almost certainly a war crime. Indeed, I struggle to see how any other conclusion is possible."[57]
Aftermath
Effects on humanitarian efforts in Gaza
Humanitarian and aid organizations operating in the Gaza Strip suspended their operations after the attack.[13] Among them are Anera and Project Hope with Anera's media relations officer Steve Fake stating that "The blatant nature of the attack on WCK's convoy has proven that aid workers are currently under attack,".[58] Due to the strike, WCK aid ships going to Gaza carrying 240 tons of aid have returned to Cyprus, citing safety concerns.[59]
Reaction from the bereaved families
The family of Zomi Frankcom has called for an investigation and possible charges of war crimes.[60] The parents of Jacob Flickinger called his death a "crime", they rejected Israel's apology, requested an independent investigation and for the US to cease providing military aid to Israel while they use "food as a weapon".[61] James Henderson's brother said that the killings of people on a humanitarian mission was "inexcusable". "Accountability is the only hope of justice I have", he said. "I don't believe our government will hold the correct people to account, but I guarantee that our government will sell weapons to Israel, which may in turn be used to kill our fellow citizens. It's hard to comprehend that."[62]
Diplomatic fallout
Israel's ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne, a few hours after the strikes on the WCK convoy, made several posts on social media, rejecting accusations of committing a war crime made by Deputy Speaker of the Polish Sejm Krzysztof Bosak.[63][64] He also recalled an incident in the Polish Sejm when Bosak's party MP Grzegorz Braun extinguished a Hanukkah menorah with a fire extinguisher.[64] The ambassador wrote that the "extreme right and left in Poland" were accusing Israel of "intentional murder in the attack."[63] He ended his statement by saying that anti-Semites will always remain anti-Semites.[64] The ambassador's statement sparked outrage. Polish President Andrzej Duda described it as "not very fortunate and, in short, outrageous," while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he did not approve of the way the ambassador spoke about the strikes on the convoy and that he expected words of apology.[64] The ambassador was summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry on 5 April 2024, where he met with Deputy Minister Andrzej Szejna.[65] According to the deputy minister, Ambassador Livne apologized for the incident.[65]
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke with their equivalents in Israel following the attack. Albanese told Netanyahu that Australians were outraged by the death of an Australian citizen in the attack.[66] Albanese later stated that he regarded Netanyahu's description of the attack as being "unintentional" and "something that happens in war" as unsatisfactory.[67] On 5 April the Australian Government stated that the Israeli government "hasn't yet satisfied" its expectations for an investigation, and that it would appoint a special adviser with responsibility for ensuring that the investigation meets Australia's expectations. The Australian Government has also stated that all evidence relating to the attack must be preserved.[67] On 6 April Wong stated that she and Minister for Defence Richard Marles had written to their Israeli equivalents calling for further action to be taken against the individuals responsible for the attack.[68]
Reactions
World Central Kitchen
José Andrés (left), founder of the World Central Kitchen, seen here in 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
José Andrés, the founder of the World Central Kitchen charity, wrote that: "I am heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family. These are people … angels … I served alongside in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, Bahamas, Indonesia. They are not faceless … they are not nameless."[23] He called on Israel to stop "indiscriminate killing," continuing that "It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon."[69]
In a separate statement Andrés said: "The air strikes on our convoy were not just some unfortunate mistake in the fog of war. It was a direct attack on clearly marked vehicles whose movements were known by the IDF."[70] Andrés made another video statement in which he accused the IDF of systematically and deliberately targeting aid workers with the intention of killing every one in the convoy. He demanded a neutral entity above the IDF conduct the investigation.[71]
WCK chief executive Erin Gore said in a statement: "This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable."[72] Gore continued: "We — World Central Kitchen and the world — lost beautiful lives today because of a targeted attack by the IDF."[29]
Israel
An Israeli military source told army radio that the attack was "the worst Israel has seen in the war."[72] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as a tragic incident where Israeli forces unintentionally hit innocent people.[73] The IDF said in a statement that it is "conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident."[74] The IDF eventually took responsibility and apologized, saying that the Israeli attack was "a mistake that followed a misidentification, at night".[75]
Hamas
Hamas condemned the drone strikes in a statement and urged the international community to take action: "This crime once again confirms that the occupation continues its policy of deliberate killing of innocent civilians, international relief teams, and humanitarian organizations, in its efforts to terrorize those working in them and prevent them from carrying out their humanitarian duties."[74]
Penny Wong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, lays a wreath at a memorial for Zomi Frankcom in Australia
Australia − Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the death of Australian national Zomi Frankcom as "completely unacceptable", and that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had requested an explanation from the Israeli ambassador.[40] DFAT stated that it was seeking from the Israeli government "a thorough and expeditious review".[77]
Belgium − Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib stated that "Aid workers do essential work and must be protected, just like civilians," also adding that "too many of them are victims of the conflict in Gaza".[78]
Brazil − In a press release, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its' deep dismay by the attack, while also deploring "the deaths of Palestinian civilians and health workers and the damage caused by military action in recent weeks," specifically mentioning the destruction of Al-Shifa Hospital. The ministry also called for compliance with the UN Security Councilresolution adopted on 25 March calling for a ceasefire in the conflict, and recalled "the binding nature of provisional measures" indicated by an order by the International Court of Justice on 26 January, calling on Israel to take steps to prevent genocide in the conflict.[79]
Canada − Foreign minister Mélanie Joly called for a full investigation into the attack.[80]
China − China said it was "shocked" and denounced the Israeli attack; Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated that "China opposes all acts that harm civilians, damage civilian facilities, and violate international law,"[81]
Colombia − In a press release, Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed solidarity with the victims' families and the WCK, while urging Israel to "guarantee the protection of NGO:s present" in the Gaza Strip, as well as to follow international humanitarian law. The ministry also called for an "exhaustive and independent" investigation into the aerial attack, and reiterated the importance of guaranteeing access to humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.[82]
Cyprus − Cyprus' Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for a "swift and conclusive" investigation and said that international and humanitarian law is "absolute,"[23] adding that "[h]umanitarian aid workers must always be respected and protected."[83]
Egypt − The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the killings were "blatant" violations of international law and called for a full investigation into the attack.[84]
France – Speaking at a press conference following talks with his US counterpart Antony Blinken in Paris, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné "strongly condemned" the Israeli airstrike, adding: "The protection of humanitarian personnel is a moral and legal imperative that everyone must adhere to."[85]
Germany – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for a swift investigation by the Israeli government into the attack, which she described as a "terrible incident." She also expressed her sympathies to the victims' families.[86]
Ireland − Foreign and Defense Minister Micheál Martin said that he was "[a]ppalled by the deaths of humanitarian workers in an Israeli strike, killed providing life-saving aid to the people of Gaza."[87]
Mexico − During a press conference, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed his condolences to friends and families of the victims of the attack, while recalling the humanitarian work done by the WCK in Mexico during Hurricane Otis. López Obrador also joined calls for a ceasefire in what he referred to as "this inhuman war."[88]
Poland − President Andrzej Duda expressed his feelings of deep sorrow over the death of the volunteers, and also stated that "this tragedy should never have happened and must be investigated."[89] Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski expressed condolences for the Polish citizen's death, and said that he personally asked for "urgent explanations" from Israel's ambassador to Poland.[35] The Israeli ambassador was summoned to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a series of controversial responses against the accusations of the drone strikes. (See #Diplomatic fallout section.) The Polish side demanded the ambassador to participate in the Przemyśl district prosecutor's office for the investigation, full access to information, and the payment of compensation to Soból's family.[65] Poland also called for respect for the March 25 UN Security Council resolution, which calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for humanitarian convoys to Gaza not to be blocked.[65]
Qatar − Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it "strongly condemns" the attack and considers it as a "shocking crime, in violation of international and humanitarian laws."[90]
Spain − Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was "expecting and demanding an explanation from the Israeli government" for the deaths of the seven aid workers. Prior to that, he tweeted he was "horrified" by the attacks.[91] After the explanations given by the IDF and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Sánchez deemed them "completely unacceptable and insufficient."[92]
United Arab Emirates − The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates condemned the deaths of the seven people, held Israel responsible and called for an investigation into the attack.[93] The UAE also paused their aid to Gaza after the attack.[94]
Scotland − First Minister Humza Yousaf called for an immediate end to arms sales from the UK to Israel, saying: "The civilian death toll is intolerable, as is the killing of humanitarian workers who deliver vital aid to Palestinians facing starvation and violence at the hands of this Israeli government. By not stopping arms sales to Israel, the UK is in danger of being complicit in the killing of innocent civilians."[97]
United States − President Joe Biden condemned the attack, saying that he was "outraged and heartbroken", criticizing Israel for having "not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians", while stating that the "United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties".[98]
European Union − EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said: "I condemn the attack and urge an investigation. Despite all the demands to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, we see new innocent casualties." He continued: "This shows that the [UN Security Council] resolution asking for an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access and a reinforced protection of civilians must be immediately implemented."[29]Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, tweeted: "I condemn yet another deadly attack on humanitarian workers in #Gaza. This must stop. Now. #ceasefire"[100]
NATO − During a press conference held in Brussels, NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg stated: "What we see now in Gaza now is a humanitarian catastrophe. We see suffering, we see that civilians are killed, and we also saw the strike against aid workers and I condemn the strike." Stoltenberg also said he was grateful for Israel taking steps to investigate what happened.[101]
United Nations − Secretary-General António Guterres described the Israeli airstrikes as "unconscionable," while highlighting the number of aid workers killed in the ongoing conflict. He also reiterated that the UN Security Council resolution passed on 25 March calling for a ceasefire "must be implemented without delay."[102] UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said he was "outraged" by the attack, calling the actions of those responsible "indefensible."[103]
Others
Islamic Relief − The humanitarian group condemned the attack and said that it is "outraged by yet another deadly attack on humanitarian workers."[104]
Norwegian Refugee Council − Secretary-General Jan Egeland shared his condolences over the killings, stating that "[n]owhere else are so many aid workers killed."[105]
The Popular Resistance Committees is a coalition of a number of armed Palestinian groups opposed to what they regard as the conciliatory approach of the Palestinian Authority and Fatah towards Israel.
The Gaza–Israel conflict is a localized part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict beginning in 1948, when 200,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes, settling in the Gaza Strip as refugees. Since then, Israel has fought 15 wars against the Gaza Strip. The number of Gazans reportedly killed in the most recent 2023 war — 27,000 — is higher than the death toll of all other wars of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that provides food relief. It was founded in 2010 by Spanish American chef and restaurateur José Andrés following the earthquake in Haiti, and has subsequently responded to Hurricane Harvey, the 2018 lower Puna eruption, 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, and the ongoing Gaza humanitarian crisis.
The year 2023 in Israel was defined first by wide-scale protests against a proposed judicial reform, and then by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, which led to a war and to Israel invading the Gaza Strip.
Events in 2023 in the Palestinian territories.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023. It began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing the militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008, it is part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.
Since the start of the Israel–Hamas war on 7 October 2023, the UN Human Rights Council has identified "clear evidence" of war crimes by both Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces. A UN Commission to the Israel–Palestine conflict stated that there is "clear evidence that war crimes may have been committed in the latest explosion of violence in Israel and Gaza, and all those who have violated international law and targeted civilians must be held accountable." On 27 October, a spokesperson for the OHCHR called for an independent court to review potential war crimes committed by both sides.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists as of 5 April 2024 the Israel–Hamas conflict has claimed the lives of at least 2 Israeli and 3 Lebanese journalists, as well as, according to the government media office in Gaza on 26 March, 136 Palestinian journalists. This toll, along with other acts of violence targeting journalists, marks the deadliest period for journalists in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict since 1992 and the deadliest commencement of a war for journalists in the 21st century. On 30 January 2024, the head of the Committee to Protect Journalists stated, "Israel's war on Gaza is more deadly to journalists than any previous war". Israeli airstrikes additionally damaged or destroyed an estimated 48 media facilities in Gaza. Reporters Without Borders has reported that the Israeli army intentionally targeted Palestinian and Lebanese journalists. In 2023, nearly 75% of journalists killed worldwide were Palestinians who had died in Israel’s war in Gaza.
Since 2005, Israel Defense Forces have launched thousands of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip from Israel as part of the continuing Gaza–Israel conflict. The airstrikes, widely condemned for targeting civilians, have been described as war crimes by the United Nations, human rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The international community considers indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets to be illegal under international law. Israel says the airstrikes are a response to the rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.
A significant number of attacks on healthcare facilities occurred during the Israel-Hamas war. During the first week of the war, there were 94 attacks on health care facilities in Israel and Gaza, killing 29 health care workers and injuring 24. The attacks on healthcare facilities contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. By 30 November, the World Health Organization documented 427 attacks on healthcare in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, resulting in 566 fatalities and 758 injuries. By February 2024, it was reported that "every hospital in Gaza is either damaged, destroyed, or out of service due to lack of fuel." By April, WHO had verified 906 attacks on healthcare in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon.
Since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has conducted numerous airstrikes in densely populated Palestinian refugee camps in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank as part of its military operations in the Israel–Hamas war.
Events in 2024 in the Palestinian territories.
More than 685 health workers have been killed and 900 wounded during attacks on medical facilities and medical transport in the Israel-Hamas War. Although the injuries happened both on the Israeli side and on the Palestinian side, most of these attacks were carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians.
The following is a list of events during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2024.
During the Israel-Hamas war, significant issues arose with humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Israel's initial blockade on Gaza prevented the entry of humanitarian aid for several weeks. As the war progressed, aid was allowed at limited levels, with entities such as Oxfam, the European Union, United Kingdom, and United Nations stating that Israel deliberately blocked humanitarian aid. These limitations have contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis and famine. Israeli airstrikes and continued restrictions on aid entry led to widespread shortages of food and supplies. Humanitarian aid agencies warned of the dire humanitarian consequences of aid restrictions, particularly after major Western donors announced they would cease funding UNRWA, the major aid relief agency in Gaza.
The flour massacre occurred in the Gaza Strip on 29 February 2024 when at least 118 Palestinians were killed and 760 injured after Israeli forces opened fire on civilians seeking food from aid trucks on the coastal Al-Rashid Street in Gaza City. The incident was the deadliest mass casualty event to have taken place in the Gaza Strip since the start of Israel's operation during the Israel-Hamas war, and took place a day after the World Food Programme reported that more than 500,000 people were at risk of famine in Gaza.
In March 2024, during the Israel–Hamas war, civilians seeking humanitarian aid were attacked at the Kuwaiti roundabout near Gaza City. According to the Gaza’s health ministry, 20 Gazans were killed and 155 were wounded. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to the accusations saying they did not open in fire at the convoy, claiming that armed palastinians fired against the Gazan civilians while waiting for the aid convoy to arrive.
1 2 "Israeli strike kills 7 aid workers in Gaza, World Central Kitchen halts operations". NBC News. 2 April 2024. Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces did not confirm that it was responsible for the deaths, and said that it would be opening a probe into the incident. "This will help us reduce the risk of such an event from occurring again," IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a video statement.
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