Israeli strike that killed aid worker ‘not deliberate’
An Israeli airstrike that hit a humanitarian convoy, killing an Australian aid worker and her colleagues, was “not knowingly or deliberately directed”, according to advice received by the Australian government.
The Israeli Defence Force launched strikes in early April that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers as they were delivering food in Gaza.
Amid fierce outrage, the Australian government called for full accountability and announced former Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin would serve as special adviser to the government on Israel’s response to the incident.
On Friday, Mr Binskin’s findings were officially delivered.
“It is my assessment that the IDF strike on the WCK aid workers was not knowingly or deliberately directed against the WCK,” he wrote.
He confirmed the deaths were the result of serious failures to follow IDF procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making – consistent with the IDF’s own assessment the incident was a “grave mistake”.
Mr Binskin said Israel’s response so far had been appropriate and “with some exceptions, sufficient”.
He recommended Australia request regular updates on the investigation process, brief Ms Frankcom’s family and advocates for their requests, among a host of other suggestions.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the government would implement all of Mr Binskin’s recommendations and reiterated calls for a ceasefire.
“We are working with the UN and the international community to press Israel to reform its coordination with humanitarian organisations, to ensure the tragic deaths of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues are not in vain and not repeated,” she said in a statement.
“The Australian government will persist until proper protections for aid workers are in place.
“The best protection for aid workers – and civilians – is a ceasefire.”
Senator Wong has written to her Israeli counterpart urging transparency as Israel’s accountability process continues.
“We will continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges,” she said.
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