The family of an Australian aid worker killed by an Israeli air strike is calling for a criminal investigation after a government report blamed the assault on serious errors, finding it was “not deliberately directed”.
The Israeli Defence Force launched strikes in early-April which killed Australian Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen workers as they delivered food in Gaza.
Former Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin was appointed as a special adviser to the federal government on Israel’s response to the incident.
In a report released on Friday, he found serious errors – exacerbated by confirmation bias – had led Israel to launch the strike.
He found the deaths were the result of failures to follow Israeli Defence Force procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making – aligning with Israel’s assessment the incident was a “grave mistake”.
“It is my assessment that the IDF strike on the WCK aid workers was not knowingly or deliberately directed against the WCK,” he wrote.
But Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Frankcom family “firmly” believed more action, including a criminal investigation, was needed.
“They feel that the disciplinary action taken today is insufficient,” Senator Wong said in Adelaide.
A family spokesperson said they welcomed the report’s findings but again asked for further investigations in Israel into those responsible.
“We appreciate that Mr Binskin’s role had some limitations, but his report is an important first step,” a statement read.
“We hope it will be followed by further investigations in Israel regarding those responsible for this tragic event, followed by appropriate action.”
Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi called the report “a complete whitewashing of the Israeli attack”.
“It just seems nonsensical that Israel couldn’t identify three separate World Central Kitchen vehicles that they bombed,” Senator Faruqi said.
“Israel has a long record of targeting humanitarian aid workers and it is delusional for the Labor government to think these were mistakes.”
The aid organisation’s convoy included white trucks with World Central Kitchen identification stickers, but these were not visible at night, Mr Binskin wrote.
“Those at the brigade level of the Israeli Defence Force were unaware of the full details of the World Central Kitchen’s plan and were ‘certain that the ‘white pick-ups’ were Hamas vehicles”.
A Israeli force member later mistakenly claimed he saw one of the convoy’s drivers place a “gun” into the vehicle.
Israel launched the strike soon after.
Mr Binskin said Israel’s response so far had been appropriate “with some exceptions”.
Senator Wong said the government would implement all of the recommendations and reiterated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Two Israeli officers have since been removed and three reprimanded.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Mr Binskin’s report was unnecessary and the former ADF chief’s appointment was a “politically based decision”.
On October 7, Hamas – designated a terrorist organisation by the government – launched an attack on Israel that killed 1200 people and led more than 200 to be taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
In the months since, Israel has launched a bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza that has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, the local health ministry says.
About 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced while 495,000 are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
