Former Australian Defense Force chief Mark Binskin was given a very wide-ranging brief by the Albanon government as an advisor on Israel's response to the killing of seven aid workers.
Among the victims was Zomi Francome, an Australian from the aid organization World Central Kitchen. There were also three British nationals, one Polish national, a joint US-Canadian national and a Palestinian driver.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Binskin would “coordinate with Israel and the Israel Defense Forces in response to the attack.”
“Australia has made clear to the Israeli government its expectation and confidence that this engagement will be facilitated.”
Air Chief Marshal Binskin served as Chief of the Australian Defense Force from 2014 to 2018.
Binskin's brief includes the following research:
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Arranging the investigation of the incident
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Israel Defense Forces Policies and Procedures for Operational Incidents
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Measures taken to hold those responsible accountable
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If further investigation is required
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Measures taken to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The government clearly recognizes the importance of the message it sends domestically from its own standpoint. For months, it has been criticized in some quarters for not reacting more strongly to the killing of thousands of civilians in Gaza. The death of an aid worker marked a turning point for a further step up.
“The special adviser will provide advice to the Australian Government on any further representations or actions that may be taken to ensure a full and transparent investigation and hold those responsible to account,” Mr Wong said. Ta.
The Australian government has made clear that “we expect full responsibility for these deaths.''
He said Mr Binskin's appointment would give Mr Francomme's family and the Australian people “confidence in this process”.
But Binskin's mission comes with complications. One is whether he will have sufficient access to materials from the Israeli military. Some of this information may not normally be available to foreign governments.
Another potential issue is what the Australian government will do if Mr Binskin's findings are critical of the Israeli investigation or other actions. Options could include the government stepping up its diplomatic rhetoric or calling for an international investigation.
Opposition national security spokesman James Patterson said Binkin's appointment was “a sensible appointment”.
“It is very important that we find out exactly how Zomi Francom was killed. She should not have been killed. It is important that we take responsibility for this by firing some of the soldiers involved.'' ”
But Mr Patterson accused the Albanon government of “double standards” for its less robust response to the October 7 killing of Australian Galit Carbone by Hamas.
“The Albanon government's response to her death was not as strong as that to Zomi Francome's death. […] I think there's a double standard in place here. ”
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement late last week that an investigation found that the force incorrectly believed one of three World Central Kitchen vehicles contained a gunman.
“The findings show that the incident should not have happened. Those who authorized the strike were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives rather than World Central Kitchen employees. .
“The strike on the support vehicle was a serious error resulting from serious failures due to mistaken identification, poor decision-making, and an attack that violated standard operating procedures,” the statement said.
Two of the people responsible were fired, and other officers were disciplined.
It is unclear whether Mr Binskin will go to Israel or whether he will be able to obtain the information he needs in Australia.
