IDF Drone Strikes Kill 7 WCK Workers in Gaza After Misidentifying Convoy as Hamas
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 5
IDF Drone Strikes Kill 7 WCK Workers in Gaza After Misidentifying Convoy as Hamas
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 5
Summary
Seven World Central Kitchen workers were killed in three Israeli drone strikes between 23:09 and 23:13 on April 1, 2024, after their convoy finished unloading aid and left a warehouse in Deir al-Balah.
An Australian review found the Nahal brigade and UAV operators had not been fully briefed on the pre-coordinated mission, then wrongly concluded armed local guards meant Hamas had hijacked the convoy.
Drone tracking showed the suspected gunmen split off and drove north to another warehouse, while the three WCK vehicles headed south toward Rafah; the report says the IDF knew the groups had separated before firing.
The account also says WCK told the IDF the convoy had not been hijacked, while the workers' later route change was learned only after the strike, undercutting Israeli claims that a 'deviation' drove the attack.
WCK said the case shows the IDF treated humanitarian work as enemy activity on flimsy evidence and renewed its demand for an independent investigation and full release of military evidence.