The IDF and defense ministry claimed that the aid workers’ killing resulted from poor coordination. Israeli army sources later refuted their claims, saying the incident has ‘no connection to coordination’ and was caused by the fact that ‘every commander sets the rules for himself’

The sources accused the IDF’s Southern Command of trying to deflect blame for the incident in Deir al-Balah, in which seven employees of World Central Kitchen were killed. A source in the intelligence branch said the command “knows exactly what the cause of the attack was – in Gaza, everyone does as he pleases.”

Army regulations say that final approval for any action against sensitive targets like aid organizations must be given by senior officers – the division commander, the head of the command or even the chief of staff. But in Gaza, the source said, “every commander sets the rules for himself” and gives his own interpretation of the rules of engagement.

“It has no connection to coordination,” the intelligence branch source said. “You can set up another 20 administrations or war rooms, but if someone doesn’t decide to put an end to the conduct of some of the troops inside Gaza, we’ll see more incidents like this.”