UK, Canada, Australia slam Israel ending probe into aid worker killings

Britain, Canada, and Australia on Friday condemned as "shameful" Israel's decision to close an investigation into the death of seven aid workers killed in Gaza in 2024.

The World Central Kitchen employees -- three Britons, a dual US-Canadian national, a Pole, an Australian, and a Palestinian -- died in a drone strike on their vehicle convoy after overseeing the unloading of a food aid shipment.

Israel's military called the incident a "tragic mistake".

"In the more than two years since, we have been pressing for Israel to swiftly and thoroughly consider the case and hold those responsible to account," the three nations said in a joint statement.

"The announcement by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) on 19 August 2026 that it would not pursue criminal investigations into this strike, without further explanation, is shameful," it said.

The incident in April 2024 sparked global outrage and renewed calls to ensure the safety of aid workers in Gaza.

"Announcing this decision on World Humanitarian Day, while the world honoured the courage and sacrifice of humanitarians, was particularly egregious," the joint statement added.

The Israeli military acknowledged a series of errors at various levels of command, but a preliminary investigation concluded on Wednesday that there was no "reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct".

"Israel extends its condolences to the families of the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers... who tragically lost their lives under deeply regrettable circumstances," Israel's foreign ministry posted on X on Friday.

It said the decision not to launch a criminal probe "was made by Israel's independent military prosecution authorities on the basis of strict professional and legal considerations".

"We remain committed to the safety of humanitarian personnel, compliance with international humanitarian law and preventing such tragedies from recurring," it added.

The US-based World Central Kitchen condemned the decision not to launch a criminal investigation, calling it "inconsistent with the full truth and deeply offensive".

It demanded an independent commission to investigate the airstrikes "because the IDF cannot credibly investigate its own conduct".

On Thursday, Australia expressed outrage at the closure of the investigation and summoned Israel's ambassador to the country.