Labor’s response to aid worker killings ‘big step’

Australia’s move to appoint a special advisor to ensure a thorough investigation into the killing of aid worker Zomi Frankcom is a “very big step” to give the nation confidence there will be accountability for her death.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong says she and Defence Minister Richard Marles have written to their Israeli counterparts after a briefing on the initial findings of the Israel Defense Forces’ investigation into the killings of seven aid workers, which hasn’t satisfied their expectations.

Senator Wong confirmed on Saturday that the government would appoint a special adviser to ensure a thorough investigation into the air strike which struck the convoy of the World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza last week.

Cabinet Minister Ed Husic describes the decision as a “very big step by our government”.

“We want Australians to have the confidence that we get to the bottom of what’s happened so there’s full transparency and ultimately full accountability for what’s gone on here,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

“(Ms Frankcom) dedicated herself to help the lives of others and she shouldn’t have lost her life in pursuit of that ambition.”

Mr Husic said the killings had resonated with a number of countries because it went to the “heart of concerns” that have persisted around Israel’s observance of humanitarian international law.

“I believe this reflects a systematic failure within the Israeli government to genuinely commit to the observance of international humanitarian law,” he said.

Mr Husic said this was behind the more than 30,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began and the deaths of hundreds of aid workers and journalists.

“This comes down to a failure by the Israeli government to observe international law, distinguishing between combatant and civilian,” he said.

Mr Husic said pressure being placed on Israel by the United States had worked and pointed to the opening up of three entry points to allow humanitarian aid to flow to Palestinians.

He warned against the Western international community allowing a perception of hypocrisy to develop from its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“We need to be able to demonstrate our values and in particular our defence of international humanitarian law,” he said.

Mr Husic took a swipe at the coalition for being “utterly silent” and “very weak” in failing to acknowledge Israel had “crossed the line”, something which had resulted in Ms Frankcom paying the price.