An Israeli investigation into the killing of seven aid workers in an airstrike in Gaza this week concluded that there were serious errors and procedural violations by the military, leading to the dismissal of two officers and the official reprimand of senior commanders.

The investigation concluded that Israeli forces mistakenly believed they were attacking Hamas militants when drone strikes hit three vehicles belonging to the World Central Kitchen aid group, but these usual procedures were violated.

The military said in a statement released on Friday that "the strike on aid vehicles was a grave error stemming from a fatal failure due to misidentification, decision-making errors, and an attack that contradicts standard operating procedures."

The statement added, "It has dismissed the brigade chief of staff with the rank of colonel and a fire support officer with the rank of major, and issued an official reprimand to senior officers, including the general at the head of the southern command."

Among those killed in the raid was Jacob Flekenger, a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, a dual Canadian and American citizen who was volunteering in Gaza with the World Central Kitchen.

The White House called for "concrete and measurable steps to reduce harm to civilians" following the deaths of aid workers, as US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Thursday.

Many details about aid routes remain unclear

Hours later, Netanyahu ordered the reopening of the Erez crossing and the temporary use of the Ashdod port in southern Israel to increase humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza, and plans are also in place to increase access for Jordanian aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza.

The announcement from the Prime Minister's office did not specify the quantities or types of items that would be allowed in.

The decision to reopen the Erez crossing, the main crossing from Israel to northern Gaza before the war, represents a significant shift after Israeli officials had previously rejected calls to open more entry points to Gaza.

With Gaza turned to rubble after six months of war, most of the population of 2.3 million had to leave their homes and now rely on aid to survive during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Umm Nasser Dahman, 33, who now lives with her family of five in a camp in Rafah city in the south, said: "We had some hopes before Ramadan, but that hope vanished on the night before the fasting month began." Now, more than half of Gaza’s population is seeking shelter.

She said via messages: "We lived in quite comfortable conditions before the war, but now we depend on limited available aid and on our relatives."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that Washington welcomes the Israeli step regarding aid, but this success will be measured by results in improving the situation on the ground.

Blinken said speaking alongside European Union leaders in Belgium: "The proof really is in the results, and we will see that in the coming days and weeks."

Blinken confirmed the US will look "closely" at specific metrics such as the number of trucks making their way into the Gaza Strip and developments in famine risks."

The war began after a Hamas leaders' attack in which more than 250 hostages were taken and about 1,200 people were killed according to Israeli statistics. Among the dead were several Canadian citizens.

More than 250 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the ground invasion, in addition to nearly 350 killed on October 7.

The Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement on Friday that more than 33,091 Palestinians have been killed and 75,750 others injured in the Israeli military attack on Gaza since October 7. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its statistics, but says women and children constitute two-thirds of the dead.

The Israeli public has largely continued to support the war goals of destroying Hamas and returning 134 hostages still held in Gaza.

Wendy Carroll, a 73-year-old writer and startup founder from Jerusalem, said: "I strongly feel that all those calling for a ceasefire outside Israel do not understand the situation here." We have been subjected to many infiltrations and invasions, and we will stand as a democratic Jewish state."

However, she said: "I do not trust the Prime Minister. He is a divisive force in this nation and many people feel this way, from all backgrounds."

Netanyahu himself faces a growing protest movement and demands for new elections, including from politicians such as Benny Gantz, the rival who is part of the current war government.

Likud party, led by Netanyahu, said Gantz should "stop engaging in petty politics" during the war.

Likud said, "Elections now would lead to paralysis, division, and harm the fighting in Rafah and deliver a fatal blow to the chances of reaching a hostage deal."

Israel condemns UN decision in Geneva

On the other hand, the UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution calling for accountability for Israel over potential war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, although Israel rejected it and described it as "a distorted text."

Twenty-eight countries voted in favor of the resolution, 13 abstained, and six opposed, including the United States and Germany. Canada is not currently a member of the council.

The resolution emphasized "the necessity to ensure accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity."

It also expressed "deep concern over reports of serious human rights violations and serious breaches of international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territories."

Miraav Elon Shahar, Israel’s permanent delegate to the United Nations in Geneva, accused the organization of "long abandoning the Israeli people and defending Hamas for a long time."

The United States pledged to vote against the resolution because it does not include specific condemnation of Hamas for the October 7 attacks, nor "any reference to the terrorist nature of those acts." The United States said its ally Israel has not done enough to mitigate harm to civilians.