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Foreign Minister Penny Wong today said the death of seven aid workers in Gaza cannot be “brushed aside”, as an Israeli report details the mistakes that led to the air strike.
Two officers have been sacked and others disciplined, as the Australian government demands accountability for the deaths, including that of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.
“There was obviously a deadly failure. It cannot be brushed aside and it cannot be covered over,” Wong said in a press conference today.
“I don’t think any Australian would expect us to do anything less than demand the transparency and accountability we have.
“We believe these deaths are utterly inexcusable and clear practical action is needed to ensure these tragedies are never repeated.
“We have made clear after we were verbally briefed, that we have not yet received sufficient information to satisfy our expectations”.
Wong’s comments come as the Israeli Defence Force released the initial findings of its investigation.
Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson said “This was a tragedy”.
“It was a terrible chain of errors.”
Two senior IDF officers have been sacked and three others reprimanded after “standard operating procedures were violated.”
“It’s very important that Israel is taking full responsibility for this incident,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
“It’s also important that it appears to be taking steps to hold those responsible accountable.”
As trucks delivered 100 tonnes of food to a Gaza warehouse, Israeli forces reportedly identified a gunman.
Then, as the three World Central Kitchen vehicles left, a commander mistakenly assumed that armed Hamas terrorists were in the cars.
Surveillance drones could not see the WCK logo on the vehicles and fired.
This first strike was called a case of “mistaken identity”.
Survivors were seen running to a second car, which two minutes later was also then hit.
People then ran for the safety of a third car which was targeted in another “grave mistake”.
All seven aid workers were killed.
The Australian government has condemned Israel’s initial response, announcing it’ll appoint a special advisor to ensure the full investigation meets expectations.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles have written to their counterparts demanding that Israel preserve evidence.
Leaders of World Central Kitchen want an independent investigation, calling the IDF’s apologies “cold comfort” for the victims’ families.
