Did you know that Truthout is a nonprofit and independently funded by readers like you? If you value what we do, please support our work with a donation.

The Israeli commander who ordered the strike on World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers in Gaza in 2024 said that he has no regrets for the incident that sparked global outrage and worsened famine conditions in the Strip.

Nochi Mendel, a colonel who was dismissed from his position as the head of the Nahal infantry brigade, told Australian public broadcaster ABC that he believes that the strike was justified, even though rights groups said it was a likely war crime that helped build evidence for Israel’s practice of using starvation as a weapon in Gaza.

“I’m the commander, and I’m the one who gave the order to carry out the operation,” said Mendel, through a translator. “I’m not sorry for what I did.”

The strike killed seven aid workers: Palestinian driver Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha; British nationals John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby; Canadian-American Jacob Flickinger; Zomi Frankcom, an Australian; and Damian Soból, from Poland. It sparked international condemnation, highlighting Israel’s practice of targeting aid workers. As of April 2026, Israel had killed 560 aid workers in Gaza amid the genocide.

After the strike, the Israeli military said that it was “conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident.” Mendel and another commander on the brigade were dismissed for “violation” of procedures.

Israel Destroyed Gaza’s Hospitals. Now It’s Banning Doctors Without Borders.

However, last week, the military announced that it was not doing a criminal probe into the commanders responsible for the........

© Truthout