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An Israeli commander, Colonel Nochi Mendel, has defended his decision to order a drone strike on an aid convoy in Gaza in April 2024 that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, 43, who was working for World Central Kitchen (WCK).
In an interview conducted in October 2025, before the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) decided not to prosecute those involved in the strike, Colonel Mendel said, "I'm the commander, and I'm the one who gave the order to carry out the operation. I didn't run away from the situation. I said I gave the order; don't look for anyone else."
The IDF described the attack as a grave mistake caused by misidentifying the convoy occupants as Hamas members due to the presence of armed security. Colonel Mendel was dismissed from his role as chief of staff for the Israeli military's Nahal infantry brigade because of a series of failures that night, including violations of IDF rules of engagement and standard operating procedure.
An Australian investigation led by Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin found that Colonel Mendel and an IDF brigade fire support commander classified several gunmen moving around the convoy's escort vehicles as Hamas operatives and sought permission to engage them outside the warehouse.
Colonel Mendel pointed to reports that WCK had let go of some staff members in December 2024 after accusations by Israel of links to Hamas. He stated, "Of course we didn't intend to kill anyone from the WCK; their connection with Hamas was a deviation from the plan."
WCK has cautioned that such accusations "should not be taken as a conclusion by WCK that the individuals are affiliated with any terror organisation."
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed ongoing concerns, saying, "We still have not had a satisfactory explanation of why the strike occurred in a humanitarian fire control zone, and after High Command had directed the brigade commander not to engage the convoy."
The incident remains a subject of scrutiny amid broader tensions in Gaza.
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