Breaking Israel’s highest-ranking officer makes grovelling apology for ‘grave mistake’ after his forces killed seven aid workers including three British veterans by bombing charity cars: Calls for ‘war crime’ probe grow – as all victims are pictured EnglishHeadline

Israel‘s highest-ranking officer has apologised for making a ‘grave mistake’ after his forces killed seven support employees by bombing a clearly marked meals convoy in Gaza.

Former Royal Marines James Henderson and John Chapman and an ex-soldier named final night time as James Kirby have been among the many victims of the ‘outrageous’ drone strike that has triggered worldwide condemnation.

The group, which was offering safety for the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity, have been hit on Monday as they moved meals from a warehouse to distribute to Gaza’s ravenous inhabitants. 

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) chief Herzi Halevi has now expressed regret over the killings, which he says have been the results of a ‘misidentification’ in complicated circumstances. He gave no additional particulars.

Lt. Gen. Halevi admitted the bombing ‘should not have occurred’ and mentioned an impartial physique would conduct a ‘thorough investigation’ that may be accomplished within the coming days.

Help businesses accused Israel of intentionally focusing on their employees, whereas specialists, together with the United Nations particular rapporteur on human rights and counterterror, have warned the killing of WCK employees could possibly be a warfare crime.

‘This incident was a grave mistake,’ Lt. Gen. Halevi mentioned in a video message posted on X early Wednesday morning, as he introduced the outcomes of IDF’s ‘preliminary debrief’ into the killings.

‘I wish to be very clear – the strike was not carried out with the intention of harming WCK support employees. It was a mistake that adopted a misidentification – at night time throughout a warfare in very complicated circumstances. It should not have occurred.’

He added: ‘Israel is at a warfare with Hamas, not the individuals of Gaza.’ 

Lt. Gen. Halevi revealed a probe has been launched into the incident within the coming days and mentioned the conclusions of the impartial investigation could be carried out instantly and shared with WCK and different ‘related’ worldwide organisations.

He mentioned he has visited the brand new Humanitarian Command Heart that was established on Tuesday to ‘enhance the way in which we coordinate support distribution in Gaza’.

‘We’ll proceed taking speedy actions to make sure that extra is finished to guard humanitarian support employees,’ he mentioned, including that IDF was ‘sorry for the unintentional hurt to the members of WCK’.

He mentioned the military ‘shared within the grief’ of the victims’ family members, including: ‘We see nice significance within the continued supply of humanitarian support, and we are going to preserve working to facilitate this important effort.’

World Central Kitchen mentioned it had coordinated with the Israeli army over the motion of its vehicles. 

Three automobiles that have been shifting at giant distances aside have been hit in succession. They have been left incinerated and mangled, indicating a number of focused strikes.

Not less than one of many automobiles had the charity’s brand printed throughout its roof to make it identifiable from the air, and the ordnance punched a big gap via the roof. 

It’s understood that the strike – which an Israeli army supply has branded as an ‘intelligence failure’ – was carried out by drone by way of an operator with the 933 brigade that was primarily based in Khan Yunis, The Telegraph reported. 

The strike reportedly would have been signed off by three people, together with an intelligence officer, senior commander and army authorized adviser.

Israeli safety sources instructed Haaretz newspaper that IDF drones had trailed the meals convoy and the military had motive to imagine a Hamas operative was travelling with the group.

Subsequent intelligence has since revealed that the fear suspect had stayed behind when the convoy left its warehouse in Deir Al-Balah, the insiders mentioned.

‘The armed man didn’t depart the warehouse,’ the newspaper reported, citing defence sources. ‘The vehicles travelled alongside a route preapproved and coordinated with the IDF.’ 

The strikes on the charity’s convoy highlighted what critics say is Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and lack of regard for civilian casualties in Gaza.

Israeli authorities blame Hamas for civilian deaths as a result of the fighters function in populated areas.

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged that Israeli forces have been in charge, saying the help employees had been killed by an ‘unintended strike’. He mentioned officers have been ‘checking completely’ what had occurred. 

Mr Netanyahu was final night time beneath intense stress to elucidate why the assault occurred – and to ensure that there will probably be no additional strikes in opposition to support employees.

Ships carrying 240 tonnes of meals support have been yesterday reported to have turned again from Gaza within the wake of the bombing, including to the humanitarian disaster within the slender strip of land.

Rishi Sunak final night time instructed Mr Netanyahu he was ‘appalled by the killing of support employees’.

In a telephone dialog the Prime Minister demanded a ‘thorough and clear impartial investigation into what occurred’.

Downing Avenue mentioned Mr Sunak instructed the Israeli PM that the state of affairs was changing into ‘more and more insupportable’ and that ‘far too many support employees and unusual civilians have misplaced their lives in Gaza’.

A No 10 spokesman mentioned: ‘The UK expects to see speedy motion by Israel to finish restrictions on humanitarian support, deconflict with the UN and support businesses, defend civilians and restore important infrastructure like hospitals and water networks.

‘The Prime Minister reiterated that Israel’s rightful purpose of defeating Hamas wouldn’t be achieved by permitting a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.’

For weeks the International Workplace has been contemplating whether or not Israel has damaged worldwide regulation and has threatened to chop off arms provides to the nation.

Calls have now emerged for intelligence sharing to be scaled again if UK authorized recommendation concludes Israel has fallen wanting its requirement to exhibit a dedication to worldwide regulation, in response to The Telegraph. 

Alicia Kearns, chairwoman of the Commons International Affairs Committee, has mentioned that there should be a ‘thorough and swift’ investigation into the airstrike.

She added: ‘There’s additionally nonetheless no rationalization for the bombing of the Medical Help for Palestine complicated in a protected zone, which had additionally been deconflicted instantly with the IDF in January, which 4 British medical doctors fortuitously survived.

‘Humanitarian businesses should be given the assurances they want that their individuals will probably be protected.’

She additionally instructed the newspaper {that a} ‘dedication that Israel isn’t demonstrating a dedication to worldwide humanitarian regulation would have implications for our intelligence-sharing, alongside arms gross sales.’ 

Equally, Lord David Cameron, the International Secretary, instructed his Israeli counterpart that the assault was ‘fully unacceptable’. Israel’s ambassador to the UK was additionally summoned to the International Workplace for a dressing down.

In a strongly worded assertion, Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the assault was ‘outrageous and unacceptable’, including: ‘This warfare should cease now.’

Some Labour MPs demanded a direct finish to arms gross sales to Israel. Former shadow justice secretary and Left-winger Richard Burgon mentioned the UK had licensed virtually £500million value of arms gross sales to Israel and steered this was ‘the most recent incident the place UK army exports might have been utilized in assaults on British nationals’.

The SNP has additionally demanded that any authorized recommendation given to the Authorities on whether or not Israel has damaged worldwide regulation be launched. 

Ben Saul, the United Nations particular rapporteur on human rights and counterterror, has warned the killing of WCK employees could possibly be a warfare crime.

He instructed The Telegraph: ‘It is a human tragedy. However, after all, it might properly be a violation of worldwide humanitarian regulation, beneath which Israel has an obligation to not intentionally goal humanitarian reduction employees or their convoys or their reduction consignments.’

Prof Saul argued that Israel has a ‘wider obligation’ to make sure the protection of support employees and their ‘freedom of motion’, and to ‘coordinate with them in order that these sorts of tragedies by no means occur’.

Mr Henderson, 33, had served within the Royal Marines for six years. Mr Chapman, 57, can also be thought to have served within the Particular Boat Squadron, a part of the UK’s Particular Forces.

The third man was named final night time by the BBC as James Kirby. He’s understood to be an Military veteran. All three have been working for a non-public agency offering safety to the help convoy.

They died alongside American-Canadian twin citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33, Australian nationwide Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom, 43, who was the chief of the reduction group, Polish nationwide Damian Sobol, 35, and Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25. 

Whitehall sources final night time acknowledged that the ‘horrendous’ assault would make it tougher for the Authorities to take care of its steadfast help for Israel’s operation in Gaza.

One insider mentioned: ‘This type of factor simply can’t be allowed to occur. Now we have proven help for Israel however that’s contingent on them conducting themselves in a sure approach, together with performing in step with worldwide humanitarian regulation.’

Israel was beneath mounting stress final night time to elucidate why its forces had focused a revered charity whose employees have been travelling in clearly marked automobiles. Three missiles from a single drone hit the three automobiles one after the other. 

Stunning footage from the scene confirmed that one missile had punched straight via the prominently displayed brand of the charity on the roof of an armoured automobile.

The convoy was hit because it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, the place employees had unloaded greater than 100 tons of humanitarian meals support delivered to Gaza by sea.

The WCK mentioned it had co-ordinated the motion of its group in Gaza prematurely with the Israeli Defence Forces.

WCK chief government Erin Gore described it as a ‘focused assault’ designed to discourage support businesses working in Gaza – which has been subjected to months of bombardment following the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel.

She mentioned she was ‘heartbroken and appalled’, including: ‘This isn’t solely an assault in opposition to WCK, that is an assault on humanitarian organisations exhibiting up in probably the most dire of conditions the place meals is getting used as a weapon of warfare. That is unforgivable.’ Deliberate assaults on civilians, together with support employees, are thought-about a warfare crime.

Israel final night time confronted condemnation from all over the world. Poland, Australia and Canada demanded solutions from Israel in regards to the deaths of their residents.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese demanded ‘full accountability’ from Israel over the dying of support employee Lalzawmi Frankcom who was killed within the convoy.

US President Joe Biden was ‘heartbroken’, his press secretary mentioned.

Mr Sunak mentioned the help employees have been ‘doing incredible work…. They should be allowed to try this work unhindered and it’s incumbent on Israel to verify they’ll try this’.

Final night time protesters led by households of Israeli hostages and anti-government teams marched on the PM’s residence in Jerusalem.

Mr Netanyahu mentioned: ‘Sadly over the past day there was a tragic incident of an unintended strike of our forces on harmless individuals within the Gaza Strip.’

He mentioned officers have been ‘checking this completely’ however added: ‘It occurs in warfare… and we are going to do every little thing in order that this factor doesn’t occur once more.’

The IDF expressed its ‘deepest condolences’ to the households of the help employees, and mentioned it was ‘reviewing the incident on the highest ranges’.

Picked off one after the other, the three British ex-forces heroes who turned Israeli targets in airstrike on meals charity automobiles in Gaza: How catastrophe unfolded step-by-step – as ‘shocked’ Sunak calls for solutions however Netanyahu insists ‘this occurs in warfare’ 

By Andy Jehring, Mark Nicol and David Averre

Late on Monday night time three vehicles from the World Central Kitchen pulled out of the organisation’s warehouse in Gaza to distribute support to Palestinians.

Every automobile was clearly marked as working for the humanitarian organisation, adopted an IDF-approved route and had GPS trackers and SOS beacons broadcasting their positions.

However regardless of taking each precaution, the seven courageous volunteers contained in the vehicles have been being watched – and have been quickly deemed hostile targets and eradicated.

Among the many doomed passengers have been former Royal Marine James Henderson, 33; former SBS soldier John Chapman, 57; in addition to a British army veteran named final night time by the BBC as James Kirby.

Every have been well-versed in working in probably the most hostile environments on the planet and would have briefed the IDF of their actual actions and plans that night time.

They have been accompanying Polish support employee Damian Sobol and his Australian colleague Lalzawmi Frankcom, in addition to a U.S.-Canadian twin nationwide and an area driver, Saif Abu Taha.

Israeli forces had seen the volunteers getting into the primary distribution hub in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, with a bigger convoy to gather the help.

A member of the IDF unit had recognized an armed man as a possible menace on one of many vans that had accompanied the three humanitarian automobiles, a safety supply instructed Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Whereas neither the suspect nor the truck left with the World Central Kitchen (WCK) vehicles, a Hermes 450 drone was scrambled to observe them. Two of the vehicles had some type of armour plating, whereas the third was a ‘soft-skinned’ 4×4, and all of them had clear WCK markings on the roof and doorways.

Regardless of this, the IDF unit accountable for securing the realm ordered UAV operators to assault one of many automobiles shortly earlier than midnight.

It deployed a precision R9X Hellfire missile which smashed into one of many armoured vehicles. Passengers have been seen scrambling from the wreckage and leaping into the opposite two automobiles.

They knowledgeable authorities monitoring their actions that that they had been hit and sped off.

After travelling simply 900 metres the Hermes 450 fired as soon as extra. 

The second armoured automotive was hit, leaving simply the soft-skinned 4×4 remaining. Surviving passengers loaded the wounded into the ultimate automobile and pulled away.

However having made it 1.5km additional alongside the coastal highway the UAV fired for a 3rd time – blasting the remaining automobile to bits.

Native Nael Eliyan, residing in a tent yards away, sprinted to the wreckage. ‘Their accidents have been critical and so they died shortly,’ he mentioned.

Harrowing footage confirmed how an enormous gap had been blown within the roof of 1 automotive, with its inside torn to shreds. One other automobile was lacking most of its rear finish.

By 1am native time photographs have been being shared on social media exhibiting the bloodied corpses of the seven victims specified by a close-by constructing. There have been additionally photographs of the passports of Mr Chapman and Mr Henderson, which have been discovered on the scene.

As information of the ‘unforgivable’ catastrophe unfold, family members all over the world started to pay tribute. Family members of Mr Henderson in Falmouth, Cornwall, heard of his dying on Tuesday morning.

A buddy instructed the Mail: ‘He hadn’t been on the market lengthy, solely a few weeks. He was a stunning lad.’

Mr Henderson had served within the Royal Marines for six years earlier than going to work for safety contractors. He and the opposite two British males have been reportedly working for Solace World, a safety agency primarily based in Poole, Dorset.

Mr Chapman, a former Royal Marine and SBS soldier, lived close by along with his spouse and their two kids. Mrs Chapman was too upset to speak final night time.  

A former comrade instructed The Solar: ‘He was a really properly appreciated man, a highly regarded bloke and it is a enormous loss for his household, his pals and for the veteran neighborhood.

‘Folks attempting to ship support into Gaza are doing the suitable factor and so they want help and safety from individuals like John and his colleagues.’

Tons of gathered in Gaza to mourn the motive force, Saif Abu Taha, whose physique was transported to Rafah, his dwelling city, the place his family members and pals carried him on their shoulders.

An in depth buddy who gave his identify as Hassan mentioned: ‘Our hearts are damaged by your dying, Saif. You’ve gotten damage us together with your passing, and we is not going to neglect you.’

Lalzawmi Frankcom died ‘doing the work she loves’, her household mentioned in an announcement.

The help employee, who was from Melbourne, Australia was described as a ‘form, selfless and excellent human being [who] travelled the world serving to others of their time of want’.

Damian Sobol, from Przemysl in south-eastern Poland, was described in a Fb submit as a ‘incredible boy’ by the town’s mayor, who mentioned that phrases couldn’t describe how those that had recognized him have been feeling.

Greater than 196 support employees have been killed in Gaza since October, in response to the U.S.-funded Help Employee Safety Database, which information main incidents of violence in opposition to support personnel.