Extract from ABC News
The Australian government will appoint a "special adviser" to ensure a thorough investigation into the Israeli air strike that killed several aid workers, including an Australian woman, saying the response so far has not been sufficient.
Israel has delivered a briefing to Australia on its rapid investigation into the attack on an aid convoy in Gaza that killed Australian woman Zomi Frankcom and six other staff of aid group World Central Kitchen (WCK).
On Friday evening Australian time, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it had dismissed two officers over the strike, which it said violated its rules of engagement.
The Australian government had previously laid out its expectations that if the investigation found IDF personnel had not acted within the law or military procedures, then actions should be taken and be made public.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are set to write to their Israeli counterparts, notifying Israel of their intention to appoint a special adviser to the Australian government on the investigation, to ensure it is conducted in a manner that meets Australia's expectations.
That adviser will be someone with expertise in military and humanitarian law, and will be named in the coming days.
Australia will also demand all evidence be preserved.
Senator Wong said information from Israel so far "hasn't yet satisfied our expectations".
"Australia is concerned by initial advice from the [Israeli] Ministry for Foreign Affairs that those responsible for commissioning and implementing the operation that killed Ms Frankcom and her colleagues have not been stood down while the investigation is undertaken," Senator Wong said, prior to Israel's announcement.
"We are also alarmed by initial comments that this was an accident and that such incidents happen in a war.
"These responses suggest the gravity of the death of seven humanitarian workers is yet to be appreciated by the Israeli government."
The WCK workers were killed while travelling in three separate vans marked with the charity's logos along a "deconflicted zone" in Gaza.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterised the attack as "unintentional" and "something that happens in war" — comments Prime Minister Anthony Albanese quickly rejected as unsatisfactory.
The defence minister repeated that Australia would pursue answers on the deaths.
"The Australian government has made clear that we expect full accountability for the deaths of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues," Mr Marles said.
"These deaths were utterly inexcusable and clear practical action is needed to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated."
No comments:
Post a Comment