IDF releases results of Gaza war crime investigations, opens criminal inquiry in Hind Rajab case but closes WCK probe

Facing heavy international pressure over allegations of misconduct during the war in Gaza, the IDF’s Military Advocate-General’s Corps issued its first major report since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Wednesday, detailing more than 150 investigations into alleged irregularities involving the conduct of the war.

The report was compiled by Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Itay Offir and his staff, based on probes by the IDF's General Staff Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism, a military body outside the regular command structure that is tasked with investigating unusual incidents amid the war. So far, it has completed around 150 probes before handing them over to the Military Advocate General for review.

Wednesday's report focuses on five major cases involving the deaths of aid workers, medical personnel and Palestinian civilians. The investigations resulted in the opening of two criminal probes, two disciplinary proceedings and the closure of one case.

Two of the cases in particular had drawn particular outrage and criticism across the world: The mistaken killing of seven workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK); and the killing of the Gazan child Hind Rajab, whose name has since been used by an organization hounding Israeli soldiers traveling abroad with lawsuits claiming they took part in the Israeli “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

On April 1, 2024, IDF troops opened fire on an aid convoy, mistakenly killing seven workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK).

According to the report, on-the-ground circumstances included WCK’s hiring of armed private security guards without coordinating with the IDF, who were then classified as unidentified armed hostiles. However, the IDF also acknowledged that its forces made serious mistakes, including mistaking the security guards and WCK officials traveling in the convoy for Hamas terrorists.

The report said the IDF attempted to contact WCK officials for clarification but was unable to reach them for 30 critical minutes, during which time IDF officers at the scene had to make decisions based on the information available to them.

As a result, the IDF upheld the decision of former IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Herzi Halevi that, while tragic, the errors constituted grounds for disciplinary measures but did not amount to a criminal offense, and closed this case. At the time, the IDF discharged two high-ranking officers and reprimanded three other senior officers for the incident.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong declared in response to the decision that her country is "outraged" and reminded the world of Zomi Frankcom, one of the WCK officials who lost her life in the incident. Wong added that relations between Canberra and Jerusalem are “in a difficult time.”

On Jan. 29, 2024, an Israeli strike killed nine members of the Hamada family, including the Palestinian child Hind Rajab, in Gaza City.

Maj.-Gen. Offir ruled that the IDF officers responsible for monitoring the scene to determine whether medical first responders had arrived before ordering further strikes were, at a minimum, grossly negligent.

The initial fire, he stated, had occurred after troops identified the Hamada family’s car as it approached forces, “traveling in the opposite direction to an evacuation route” published by the IDF.

“After examining the findings and in light of alleged failures concerning the coordination of the movement of the Red Crescent ambulance, it was decided to order further examination of the incident through a Military Police investigation,” the IDF said, meaning that a criminal investigation into the incident is pending.

Israeli media reports indicated that Wednesday’s report is the first of several expected to be released as additional investigations are completed.

The report comes amid criticism from several governments and NGOs that Israel has been too slow to investigate allegations involving its forces.

The investigations are also important to Israel’s position that it is capable of investigating alleged wrongdoing by its own military and therefore does not need outside investigations by bodies such as the International Criminal Court or the United Nations.

A third investigation concerns the mistaken killing of firefighters, medical first responders and others connected to the United Nations on March 23, 2025, in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, as they were traveling to assist wounded people.

Although six of the 15 people killed were later found to have been connected to Hamas, the investigation found reason to suspect that commanders of units at the scene were aware that unaffiliated civilians were also in the vehicles that were fired upon.

A criminal investigation into the incident is pending.

The report also addresses the April 2025 incident in which International Red Crescent paramedics were mistakenly killed. Several IDF officers involved in the incident have already been fired, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The IDF said at the time that it “regrets this serious incident and continues to conduct thorough review processes to draw operational lessons and evaluate additional measures to prevent such events in the future.”

“We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family. As part of the IDF’s commitment to transparency and dialogue with international entities, the IDF has shared the findings gathered thus far with the UN," the IDF added.

"The IDF places great importance on continued engagement with international organizations, as part of efforts to enhance coordination, apply lessons learned, and prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future,” the Israeli military emphasized.

The MAGC report also included details of an investigation into two incidents in which IDF troops mistakenly fired on members of the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) organization.

The first incident occurred in Gaza City on Nov. 18, 2023, while the second took place in Khan Yunis on Feb. 20, 2024. Both cases were closed after the investigations determined that the deaths of the MSF officials were caused by indirect fire.

The report concluded by acknowledging that it had taken too long to be issued, while emphasizing the extraordinary circumstances under which the investigations were conducted.

The MAGC noted that the report was compiled amid the longest and most complex war in the history of modern Israel and while the war is still not completely over.

It also acknowledged that such reports might not be popular with the Israeli public but argued that they are necessary to preserve Israel’s diplomatic standing, prevent action against Israel by the International Criminal Court and other international bodies and maintain relations with Western allies that provide critical military, economic, and diplomatic support to the Jewish state.

"As a law-abiding democracy with an independent justice system Israel is committed to the rule of law. Israel thoroughly investigates claims of misconduct, including amid the harrowing war against the jihadi organizations that seek its destruction," the Foreign Ministry stated.

"These decisions demonstrate the strength of Israel’s law enforcement system and its commitment to full transparency and accountability."