IDF Issues First War Crimes Probe Since Oct. 7, Investigating WCK Incident

The IDF's Military Advocate-General's Corps has released its first war crimes report since the October 7th attacks, detailing investigations into over 150 cases. The report specifically addresses the World Central Kitchen (WCK) incident, alongside the Islamic Red Crescent saga and three other major cases. These investigations have resulted in the opening of two criminal probes and two disciplinary probes, with one case being closed.

The IDF probe into the WCK incident, which occurred on April 1, 2024, and resulted in the accidental deaths of seven international aid workers, admits that surveillance officials mistakenly identified WCK security guards as Hamas operatives. The report also notes that unarmed WCK personnel entering vehicles mid-journey were subsequently misidentified as armed.

This detail is significant, as senior IDF officials had previously suggested that the presence of a Hamas fighter was a key justification for the strike. The report criticizes WCK for being unreachable for 30 minutes when the IDF attempted to clarify the situation. Ultimately, the IDF decided that while the errors were tragic, they warranted disciplinary measures but did not constitute a crime.

In a notable development, the decision regarding the WCK incident was not made by IDF Military Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Itay Offir himself, due to a potential conflict of interest. Offir had previously worked closely with one of the key commander-suspects, IDF Col. Nochi Mendel. To avoid any perception of favoritism, IDF Chief Prosecutor Col. Eli Levertov issued the decision. The report indicates that further updates will be provided over time, with the number of cases under criminal investigation having significantly increased to 150 from approximately 100 in June.