The initial investigation by the Israeli military into a strike that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza has revealed that a mistake in target identification was responsible.
This comes as Israel faces international criticism and tries to manage the repercussions of a hunger crisis in the region.
The strike occurred on Monday night, hitting workers from World Central Kitchen, a prominent provider of food aid in Gaza founded by celebrity chef José Andrés.
The incident has heightened global concerns about Israel's conduct during its nearly six-month-long conflict with Hamas.
Following the strike, World Central Kitchen and several other aid organizations temporarily suspended their operations in Gaza due to concerns for their staff's safety.
This decision threatens to worsen the existing humanitarian crisis, with over a million people in Gaza estimated to be facing starvation due to Israel's blockade.
The deaths of the aid workers, the first among foreign aid workers in Gaza since the conflict began, have increased pressure on Israel to ensure the safety of those affected by the fighting.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Israel's responsibility for the strike and pledged to conduct a thorough investigation. President Biden expressed outrage and sadness over the deaths, particularly of one U.S.-Canadian dual citizen among the victims.
Biden called for a swift and transparent Israeli investigation, criticizing Israel for not doing enough to protect aid workers delivering essential assistance to civilians.
In a recorded message released on Wednesday, Lt. Gen.
Herzi Halevi, the Israeli military's chief of staff, stated that the strike was not intended to harm World Central Kitchen aid workers.
He described the incident as a mistake resulting from misidentification in complex nighttime war conditions.
Halevi did not specify the military's target when the convoy of three cars carrying aid workers was hit.
The Israeli military has announced plans to improve coordination with international aid organizations. Previously, aid groups had voluntarily shared their operational locations and coordinated movements with Cogat, a civilian body within the Israeli military responsible for communicating this information to the armed forces.
Despite these efforts, humanitarian buildings and convoys have been repeatedly targeted in Gaza.
The United Nations halted most aid missions to the north in early February after an aid-truck convoy was hit by Israeli navy fire while waiting to cross a checkpoint in Gaza.
The Israeli military defended its actions, stating that it targeted Hamas infrastructure and would learn from the incident to prevent future tragedies.