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Gaza aid convoy strike: What we know | Gaza aid convoy strike: What we know |
(1 day later) | |
Seven people working for the food aid charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) have been killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. | Seven people working for the food aid charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) have been killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. |
Three of them were British and Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called on Israel to "urgently explain how this happened". | Three of them were British and Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called on Israel to "urgently explain how this happened". |
BBC Verify has been studying images of the aftermath of the attack, shared on social media, to try to piece together what we know about the incident. | BBC Verify has been studying images of the aftermath of the attack, shared on social media, to try to piece together what we know about the incident. |
The convoy | The convoy |
The charity says the aid workers were travelling in three cars - two of them armoured. | The charity says the aid workers were travelling in three cars - two of them armoured. |
It says the convoy's movements had been co-ordinated with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). | It says the convoy's movements had been co-ordinated with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). |
The convoy had dropped off more than 100 tonnes of food supplies at a warehouse in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, according to the charity. | The convoy had dropped off more than 100 tonnes of food supplies at a warehouse in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, according to the charity. |
By analysing images of three heavily damaged vehicles - one of them bearing a WCK logo on the roof - BBC Verify has worked out their locations. | By analysing images of three heavily damaged vehicles - one of them bearing a WCK logo on the roof - BBC Verify has worked out their locations. |
They are around 2.5km (1.5 miles) apart, which suggests there was more than one strike. | They are around 2.5km (1.5 miles) apart, which suggests there was more than one strike. |
BBC Verify pinpointed their locations by matching visual clues in the photos of them with satellite images of this part of Gaza. | BBC Verify pinpointed their locations by matching visual clues in the photos of them with satellite images of this part of Gaza. |
In one image of a heavily damaged Toyota Hilux, as well as the trees and fence beside the vehicle, a lone palm tree stands in a walled enclosure with a distinctive pattern of buildings surrounding it. | In one image of a heavily damaged Toyota Hilux, as well as the trees and fence beside the vehicle, a lone palm tree stands in a walled enclosure with a distinctive pattern of buildings surrounding it. |
Using satellite images, these features have been matched with a part of Al-Rashid road - which runs along the coast in central Gaza. | Using satellite images, these features have been matched with a part of Al-Rashid road - which runs along the coast in central Gaza. |
In a photo of a second badly damaged vehicle, a large jagged hole can been seen in the roof of a different Toyota Hilux. A WCK logo is also visible. | In a photo of a second badly damaged vehicle, a large jagged hole can been seen in the roof of a different Toyota Hilux. A WCK logo is also visible. |
Elsewhere, a pylon, a section of woodland, a low wall and two distinct roofs can be seen in the background. BBC Verify has matched the scene to about 800m south of the first vehicle. | Elsewhere, a pylon, a section of woodland, a low wall and two distinct roofs can be seen in the background. BBC Verify has matched the scene to about 800m south of the first vehicle. |
A third damaged vehicle was photographed in an area of open ground to the south, about 100m off the road. | A third damaged vehicle was photographed in an area of open ground to the south, about 100m off the road. |
The WCK says this third car was a "soft-skin vehicle" - meaning not armoured. It was about 1.6km south of the second vehicle and 2.5km of the first. | The WCK says this third car was a "soft-skin vehicle" - meaning not armoured. It was about 1.6km south of the second vehicle and 2.5km of the first. |
The third car was a "soft-skin vehicle" according to the WCK | The third car was a "soft-skin vehicle" according to the WCK |
"It was a direct hit. They tried to treat some of them and put them in another car in front. But they shelled the car," said a local resident, who said he had witnessed the strike. | "It was a direct hit. They tried to treat some of them and put them in another car in front. But they shelled the car," said a local resident, who said he had witnessed the strike. |
In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, WCK founder Jose Andres said the charity had clear communication with the Israeli military. | |
"This was not just a bad luck situation where 'oops' we dropped the bomb in the wrong place," he said. | |
What weapons might have been used? | What weapons might have been used? |
BBC Verify showed images of the cars to a number of weapons experts. | BBC Verify showed images of the cars to a number of weapons experts. |
They do not show fragments of missiles or bombs at the scene but the experts studied the damage to the vehicles. | They do not show fragments of missiles or bombs at the scene but the experts studied the damage to the vehicles. |
Chris Cobb-Smith, a former British Army officer and ex-UN weapons inspector, said the attack was probably the result of drone-launched Spike missiles. | Chris Cobb-Smith, a former British Army officer and ex-UN weapons inspector, said the attack was probably the result of drone-launched Spike missiles. |
Spike missiles are a type of powerful weapon, usually launched against tanks and other armoured vehicles. | Spike missiles are a type of powerful weapon, usually launched against tanks and other armoured vehicles. |
Justin Crump, a former British Army officer who runs Sibylline - a risk intelligence company - agreed. He says the attack "was likely drone-launched and targeted". | Justin Crump, a former British Army officer who runs Sibylline - a risk intelligence company - agreed. He says the attack "was likely drone-launched and targeted". |
He added the strike had probably been caused by a missile, rather than a bomb or mortar. | He added the strike had probably been caused by a missile, rather than a bomb or mortar. |
The victims | The victims |
The seven aid workers killed have been named by WCK as: | The seven aid workers killed have been named by WCK as: |
Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, 43, an Australian citizen | Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, 43, an Australian citizen |
Damian Sobol, 35, a Polish citizen | Damian Sobol, 35, a Polish citizen |
Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25, a Palestinian | Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25, a Palestinian |
Jacob Flickinger, 33, a dual US-Canadian national | Jacob Flickinger, 33, a dual US-Canadian national |
John Chapman, 57, a British citizen | John Chapman, 57, a British citizen |
James (Jim) Henderson, 33, a British citizen | James (Jim) Henderson, 33, a British citizen |
James Kirby, 47, a British citizen | James Kirby, 47, a British citizen |
WCK released pictures of the victims | WCK released pictures of the victims |
Images of the aid workers' bodies were first posted on social media just before 22:30 BST on 1 April. | Images of the aid workers' bodies were first posted on social media just before 22:30 BST on 1 April. |
Graphic videos showed the bodies of five individuals. Two more bodies were recovered from Deir al-Balah later on, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said on X. | Graphic videos showed the bodies of five individuals. Two more bodies were recovered from Deir al-Balah later on, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said on X. |
WCK logos were visible on bulletproof vests on at least three of the deceased. | WCK logos were visible on bulletproof vests on at least three of the deceased. |
Videos also showed colleagues from WCK identifying the bodies. | Videos also showed colleagues from WCK identifying the bodies. |
"These are the people who brought the aid from the sea," one said, before crying out as he recognised a Palestinian aid worker killed. | "These are the people who brought the aid from the sea," one said, before crying out as he recognised a Palestinian aid worker killed. |
The route | The route |
WCK said the food supplies had been brought to Gaza "on the maritime route". | WCK said the food supplies had been brought to Gaza "on the maritime route". |
Aid is delivered by sea using a jetty recently constructed by WCK west of Gaza city. The first delivery via the route was on 15 March. | Aid is delivered by sea using a jetty recently constructed by WCK west of Gaza city. The first delivery via the route was on 15 March. |
WCK also has a "Welcome Centre" along the coastal road for refugees fleeing the north. | WCK also has a "Welcome Centre" along the coastal road for refugees fleeing the north. |
It is unclear exactly where the Deir al-Balah warehouse is, but WCK recently opened a new field kitchen to the east of Deir al Balah, off Salah al-Din road. | It is unclear exactly where the Deir al-Balah warehouse is, but WCK recently opened a new field kitchen to the east of Deir al Balah, off Salah al-Din road. |
A video shared to their X account last week shows a storage area with a forklift truck as well as food on pallets. This location is roughly 5km from where the first car was struck on the coastal road. | A video shared to their X account last week shows a storage area with a forklift truck as well as food on pallets. This location is roughly 5km from where the first car was struck on the coastal road. |
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN: Facing danger to feed millions | WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN: Facing danger to feed millions |
Charity founder pays tribute to workers | Charity founder pays tribute to workers |
ANALYSIS: Deadly strike shows aid workers' protection in crisis, agencies say | ANALYSIS: Deadly strike shows aid workers' protection in crisis, agencies say |
PROFILES: Who were the seven aid workers killed in Gaza? | PROFILES: Who were the seven aid workers killed in Gaza? |
BBC Verify asked the food aid charity for the warehouse location and details of the co-ordinates they shared with Israeli forces but they did not provide any details. | BBC Verify asked the food aid charity for the warehouse location and details of the co-ordinates they shared with Israeli forces but they did not provide any details. |
The IDF chief of general staff Herzi Halevi has issued a statement calling the attack "a mistake that followed a misidentification at night… it shouldn't have happened". | The IDF chief of general staff Herzi Halevi has issued a statement calling the attack "a mistake that followed a misidentification at night… it shouldn't have happened". |
He said an investigation into the incident would be completed "in the next coming days". | He said an investigation into the incident would be completed "in the next coming days". |
BBC Verify is continuing to investigate this incident. | BBC Verify is continuing to investigate this incident. |
Additional reporting by Merlyn Thomas, Osob Elmi and Joshua Cheetham | Additional reporting by Merlyn Thomas, Osob Elmi and Joshua Cheetham |
What do you want BBC Verify to investigate? | What do you want BBC Verify to investigate? |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Israel-Gaza war | Israel-Gaza war |