Israel’s military has concluded that its actions in a 2024 airstrike in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of a Canadian aid worker and six others, did not constitute a criminal act. The military prosecutor announced the decision not to pursue a criminal investigation into the incident that targeted a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles, killing Jacob Flickinger from Quebec, a Palestinian, and aid workers from the UK, Australia, and the US.

In response to the decision, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand expressed disappointment, calling the lack of further accountability “unacceptable.” She highlighted the need to protect humanitarian workers in conflict zones and emphasized Canada’s expectation for the upholding of international humanitarian law.

World Central Kitchen, the organization distributing food in Gaza, refuted the military’s account of the incident, calling for an independent investigation. The military stated that individuals in the vehicles were mistakenly identified as armed Hamas operatives, leading to the airstrike. Despite the removal of two officers and reprimands for three others, the military concluded that no criminal misconduct was suspected.

The decision sparked outrage in Australia, where Foreign Minister Penny Wong summoned the Israeli ambassador, stating that the accountability measures taken were inadequate considering the serious failures and errors that led to the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom. Wong criticized the timing of the decision, noting that it coincided with World Humanitarian Day.

Australian officials expressed their concerns over the lack of criminal action in similar incidents involving Doctors Without Borders staff. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada had previously called for an independent investigation into the deaths of the aid workers, rejecting the notion that collateral deaths are acceptable in conflict situations.

The ongoing developments have drawn attention from various organizations and governments, with calls for transparency, accountability, and justice for the victims and their families.