UK, Australia, Canada slam Israel closure of WCK strike probe

The foreign ministries of the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada issued a joint statement on Friday criticizing the Israeli Defense Forces' August 19 announcement that it would not pursue criminal investigations into the April 2024 strike. "The announcement by the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) on 19 August 2026 that it would not pursue criminal investigations into this strike, without further explanation, is shameful," the statement said. The three countries noted they had spent more than two years pressing Israel to swiftly and thoroughly examine the case and hold those responsible to account.

Investigation closure

The Israeli military said Wednesday it would investigate two suspected war-crimes cases in the Gaza Strip while closing three other high-profile investigations, including the deadly attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy that killed seven aid workers. The April 2024 strike targeted the humanitarian organization's vehicles despite coordination with Israeli authorities, sparking international outrage and demands for an independent probe. The IDF's decision to close the WCK case without filing criminal charges comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Israel's conduct during the war in Gaza.

Calls for compliance

The three countries called on Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and said it must do more to ensure that humanitarian workers can carry out their duties safely. They emphasized that aid personnel operating in conflict zones require protection and that failures to investigate alleged violations undermine the rules-based international order. The statement reflects growing frustration among Western allies over Israel's military accountability mechanisms as the death toll among humanitarian workers in Gaza continues to rise.