“It's nonsense”: Jacob Flickinger's mother rejects Israeli army's explanations

The mother of a Quebec humanitarian worker killed in a strike in Gaza this week is shrugging off “serious errors” by the Israeli military and calling on the international community to do more to limit the number of victims.

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“This StupidityIn an interview Sylvie Labrec began bluntly Newspaper. “It's a way to further starve these refugees who find themselves in Gaza.”

Her son Jacob Flickinger died on Monday while delivering food to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) organization.

The ferocity of the attack gave the 33-year-old from Pews and his six other colleagues no chance.

Jacob Flickinger was a member of the Canadian Army's Royal 22nd Regiment who brought his military expertise to its humanitarian missions.

Jacob Flickinger was a member of the Canadian Army's Royal 22nd Regiment who brought his military expertise to its humanitarian missions.

AFP

The dual US and Canadian citizen leaves behind, among others, 18-month-old baby Jasper.

“We need to get to the truth about what really happened. To me, it's a war against humanity, it's not just a war with two sides,” Sandy Leclerc, the wife of the deceased, testified to LCN. Jacob would not have been there if he believed his life was in danger.

Screenshot of the website www.gofundme.com

“Critical Errors”

After an internal investigation, the military admitted to continuing “serious errors” in “decision-making” and misidentification of suspects and vehicles.

The soldiers “believed they were targeting armed Hamas agents, not WCK employees,” a military statement said.

Two officers, a reserve colonel and a commander, involved in these blunders should be dismissed.

Another car used by American humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen, we will see the impact of the Israeli strike on Monday.

AFP

Sylvie Labrecque gives very little credence to these justifications.

“Those who launched the missiles were clearly aware that the vehicles were identified and very easy to see. And yet, we launched more than one missile,” he argues.

“I think the attack that was carried out was deliberate, deliberate,” Ms. Labrecque said.

pressures

The affair sparked international outrage, as have many other reported atrocities since clashes between Hamas and the Israeli military began.

“It's my blood, it's my guts, but it's much bigger than my son,” says Sylvie Labrecque. My son was one of the aid workers killed, and we know there have been almost 200 to date.

A car used by World Central Kitchen, an American humanitarian organization hit by an Israeli strike on April 2, 2024. It is believed that Quebecer died during this tragedy.

AFP

More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip so far.

For Ms. Labrecque, who wanted to increase the number of interviews this week, there is one question: “There are beautiful words. […] Governments, but when will there be real measures to reduce the damage?

“unacceptable”

US President Joe Biden has described strikes against humanitarian workers as “unacceptable”.

He warned his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, that he must “take specific, concrete and concrete steps to respond. [… ] to a humanitarian crisis”, without which US support could suffer.

Biden called for an immediate ceasefire.

-with AFP