Israeli Commander Defends Deadly Strike on WCK Aid Workers in Gaza

Israeli Commander Defends Strike on Aid Workers in Gaza

JERUSALEM — In a recent interview, an Israeli military commander who ordered an airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers in Gaza last year expressed no remorse for the operation, despite widespread condemnation and legal scrutiny.

Colonel Nochi Mendel, who was dismissed from his post as chief of staff of the Nahal infantry brigade following the incident, told Australia’s ABC News through a translator that he stands by his decision. "I’m the commander, and I’m the one who gave the order to carry out the operation," Mendel said. "I’m not sorry for what I did."

The April 2024 strike in Gaza City killed seven humanitarian workers: Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha (Palestinian), John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby (British), Jacob Flickinger (Canadian-American), Zomi Frankcom (Australian), and Damian Soból (Polish). The attack triggered global outrage, drawing attention to Israel’s pattern of targeting aid workers. According to reports as of April 2026, Israeli forces have killed 560 aid workers in Gaza since the conflict escalated.

Following the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it was conducting a "thorough review at the highest levels" to assess the circumstances. Mendel and another brigade commander were dismissed for procedural violations, though no criminal investigation was launched—a decision that has drawn renewed criticism.

World Central Kitchen (WCK) rejected claims that the convoy posed any threat. "At the time of the lethal attacks, the IDF knew that our team in Gaza was unarmed and posing a threat to nobody," the organization said in a statement. "It had full visual clarity on our clearly marked humanitarian vehicles during the extended, multiple airstrikes."

Mendel, however, claimed in the interview that he believed WCK had ties to Hamas, allegations the organization called "false and outrageous." He asserted that his team had identified gunmen—later described as WCK security personnel—moving alongside aid workers. Mendel stated that after observing a person with a gun enter a vehicle with a WCK logo on its roof, he authorized the strike.

Legal experts and human rights groups have argued that the attack may constitute a war crime, particularly given Israel’s broader strategy of restricting humanitarian access in Gaza. International law prohibits deliberate attacks on civilians and requires militaries to take precautions to avoid civilian harm.

Mendel acknowledged that "maybe one" or no combatants were killed, and no evidence has emerged linking the aid workers to Hamas. His primary grievance, he said, was his dismissal rather than accountability for the strike.

The incident had far-reaching consequences. Several aid organizations withdrew from Gaza in response, worsening the humanitarian crisis. Despite international condemnation, Israel faced no significant penalties, and the U.S. did not impose serious consequences, allowing the military campaign to continue, including an eventual invasion of Rafah.

Mendel’s remarks underscore the broader debate over accountability in the Israel-Gaza conflict, where repeated strikes on humanitarian operations have gone largely unpunished. Human rights advocates argue that such actions contribute to a climate of impunity, enabling further violations.