Israel dismisses 2 officers involved in deadly strike on aid workers, moves to open more aid routes

An Israeli inquiry into the killing of seven aid workers in an airstrike in Gaza this week found serious errors and breaches of procedure by the military, with the result that two officers have been dismissed and senior commanders formally reprimanded.

The inquiry found Israeli forces mistakenly believed they were attacking Hamas gunmen when drone strikes hit the three vehicles of the World Central Kitchen's aid group, but that standard procedures had been violated.

"The strike on the aid vehicles is a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the standard operating procedures," the military said in a statement issued on Friday.

It said it had dismissed a brigade chief of staff with the rank of colonel and a brigade fire support officer with the rank of major, and issued formal reprimands to senior officers including the general at the head of the Southern Command.

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Among those killed in the strike was Canadian Armed Forces veteran Jacob Flickinger, a dual Canadian and U.S. citizen who had been in Gaza volunteering for World Central Kitchen.

The aid organization, led by celebrity chef José Andrés, welcomed the dismissals as "important steps" in a statement, but questioned the ability of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to investigate itself. It has called for an independent commission to do so.

The WCK said it was "clear from their preliminary investigation that the IDF has deployed deadly force without regard to its own protocols, chain of command and rules of engagement."

"Without systemic change, there will be more military failures, more apologies and more grieving families," the organization said.

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The White House demanded "concrete and measurable steps to reduce civilian harm" in the wake of the aid worker deaths, with U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking by phone on Thursday.

Hours later, Netanyahu ordered the reopening of the Erez crossing and the temporary use of Ashdod port in southern Israel to increase humanitarian aid supplies into Gaza. Increased access for Jordanian aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza is also planned.

The announcement from the PM's office did not elaborate on quantities or types of items to be let in.

Israeli officials previously rejected calls for more entry points into Gaza to be opened up.