The UK, Canada, and Australia have jointly condemned Israel's decision to close its investigation into the April 2024 drone strikes that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. Labeling the decision "shameful" and "egregious," the allies criticized the lack of criminal accountability. While the IDF maintained that commanders acted without criminal intent due to misidentifying an uncoordinated guard as a Hamas fighter, Australia and Poland summoned Israeli ambassadors to demand justice.
IDF closes WCK investigation
- ▪The Israel Defense Forces also declined to open a criminal investigation into the deaths of four Médecins Sans Frontières employees killed in Gaza.
- ▪The Israel Defense Forces stated that commanders' decisions did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct, despite failures in identifying the World Central Kitchen convoy.
- ▪The Israel Defense Forces stated that the World Central Kitchen convoy had hired an uncoordinated armed guard who was falsely identified as a Hamas fighter.
- ▪The Israel Defense Forces announced on August 19, 2026, that it would not launch a criminal investigation into the April 1, 2024, airstrikes on a World Central Kitchen convoy.
April 2024 convoy strike
- ▪World Central Kitchen stated that the Israel Defense Forces had full visual clarity of their clearly marked vehicles and had coordinated the route in advance.
- ▪Israeli airstrikes on April 1, 2024, killed seven World Central Kitchen workers, including three British nationals, an Australian, a Pole, a Canadian, and a dual US-Canadian citizen.
Three-nation joint condemnation
- ▪The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia issued a joint statement on August 21, 2026, calling Israel's decision to close the investigation shameful and egregious.
- ▪Poland's foreign ministry expressed deep disappointment over Israel's decision and summoned the Israeli ambassador in Warsaw.
- ▪The joint statement by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia noted that Israel's announcement occurred on World Humanitarian Day, which they described as particularly egregious.
Australian ambassador summons
- ▪Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong summoned Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, expressing outrage over the closure of the investigation.
- ▪Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong questioned why two subsequent airstrikes were launched minutes after the first strike if the initial incident was a catastrophic error.
- ▪Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, defended the military's decision, stating there was no criminal intention and therefore no criminal responsibility.
Gaza humanitarian worker deaths
- ▪A United Nations report stated that 186 humanitarian workers were killed in Gaza in 2025, making it the deadliest place to deliver aid.
- ▪The Israel Defense Forces announced a criminal investigation into the 2024 killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab and her family members in Gaza.
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