Israel's defense chief said on Wednesday the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza was a “serious mistake”, after the incident drew international condemnation.
“This incident was a grave mistake,” IDF chief Herzi Halevi said in a video message on Monday regarding the attack on the World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy.
“This should not have happened,” Halevi said, blaming the attack on “mistaken identification – at night in very complex circumstances of war.”
“We regret any harm we unintentionally caused to WCK members.”
US-based food aid charity World Central Kitchen said its convoy was attacked as it was leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, near the Gazan city, in the attack which included Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and American- Seven people, including Canadian employees, were killed.
Since the beginning of the war in October, the NGO has been involved in feeding displaced Gazans, and was one of two organizations leading the delivery of food aid arriving by sea.
