‘Serious failures’ led Israel to strike aid workers
Serious errors, exacerbated by confirmation bias, led Israel to launch an airstrike on a humanitarian convoy that killed an Australian aid worker and six colleagues, government advice has found.
Zomi Frankcom
The Israeli Defence Force launched strikes in early April that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers as they were delivering food in Gaza.
Amid fierce outrage, the Australian government called for full accountability and announced former Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin would serve as special adviser to the government on Israel’s response to the incident.
On Friday, Mr Binskin’s findings were officially delivered.
“It is my assessment that the IDF strike on the WCK aid workers was not knowingly or deliberately directed against the WCK,” he wrote.
He confirmed the deaths were the result of serious 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”.
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”.
“It appears that the IDF controls failed, leading to errors in decision making and a misidentification, likely compounded by a level of confirmation bias,” the report read.
Mr Binskin said Israel’s response so far had been appropriate and “with some exceptions, sufficient” but emphasised an apology should be made to the families of those killed.
He recommended Australia request regular updates on the investigation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the government would implement all of the recommendations and reiterated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Israel is bound by international law, which requires the protection of aid workers. Demonstrably, that did not occur in relation to Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues,” she told reporters in Adelaide.
“The best protection for aid workers – and civilians – is a ceasefire.
“We do believe an apology should be provided, I have also said that clear practical action is needed to ensure this this tragedy is never repeated.”
Two Israeli officers have been removed and three reprimanded, but Ms Frankcom’s family says this is not enough and has called for a criminal investigation.
“The Australian government will continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges,” Senator Wong said.
The World Central Kitchen hired armed locally contracted security on its aid convoy, which had not been approved in its coordinations with the Israeli Defence Force, giving “the appearance of the presence of Hamas”.
President of the ZFA, Jeremy Leibler, said: “The findings of the report reaffirm that while the death of Ms Franckom was a tragic accident, the IDF did not and does not target aid workers or any civilians.
Since October 7, Israel has been forced into a war that it did not start to remove Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organisation which has said it wishes to commit such horrors again. In war, tragic accidents happen. Innocent lives could be spared and the war could end tomorrow if Hamas were to surrender and release the remaining hostages.”
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.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Mr Binskin’s report was unnecessary and said the former ADF chief’s appointment was a “politically based decision”.
“IDF has … pointed out that they’ve made a mistake, as is the case in a theatre of war,” he told reporters in Perth.
Speaking on behalf of the family of the late Ms Zomi Frankcom, a family spokesperson welcomed the release of a report by Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin.
“We are very grateful to have had the benefit of a detailed discussion with Mr Binskin and DFAT personnel. We appreciate that Mr Binskin’s role had some limitations, but his report is an important first step. We hope it will be followed by further investigations in Israel regarding those responsible for this tragic event, followed by appropriate action.”
“The supportive comments of the Australian Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong, and the Australian Government, also mean a great deal to us.”
President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, said, “The findings of the report reaffirm that while the death of Ms Franckom was a tragic accident, the IDF did not and does not target aid workers or any civilians.
Since October 7, Israel has been forced into a war that it did not start to remove Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organisation which has said it wishes to commit such horrors again. In war, tragic accidents happen. Innocent lives could be spared and the war could end tomorrow if Hamas were to surrender and release the remaining hostages.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued a statement saying: “Australia is pressing Israel to reform its coordination with humanitarian organisations to protect civilians and aid workers, following Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin’s report on the deaths of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues.
ACM Binskin confirmed the Israeli Defence Forces’ strikes on their vehicles were the result of serious failures to follow IDF procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making.
This is consistent with the IDF’s own assessment that this “incident should not have occurred” and was a “grave mistake”.
Gaza remains the deadliest place on earth to be an aid worker.
The UN reports that more than 250 aid workers have been killed since the conflict in Gaza began. In recent weeks, at least three UN vehicles have come under attack.
This is why the Australian Government is implementing all of ACM Binskin’s recommendations, including the recommendation for further calls on Israel to improve coordination and deconfliction with humanitarian organisations working on the ground.
We are working with the UN and the international community to press Israel to reform its coordination with humanitarian organisations, to ensure the tragic deaths of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues are not in vain and not repeated.
The Australian Government will persist until proper protections for aid workers are in place. The best protection for aid workers – and civilians – is a ceasefire.
Israel’s process to determine accountability for the World Central Kitchen strikes is not over. The Military Advocate General of Israel is still to decide on further action. Our expectation remains that there be transparency about the Military Advocate General’s process and decision. I have written to my Israeli counterpart to this end.
We will continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges.”
ZFA CEO, Alon Cassuto, added
“the barbaric attacks committed by Hamas on October 7, and its refusal to lay down its arms, have caused widespread suffering and tragedy, including the deaths of Australians, Galit Carbone and Zomi Franckom.
The Federal Government must apply pressure to Hamas to release the hostages and surrender, rather than to Israel, who as evidenced by this report, have complied and taken accountability for their mistake.”
By Kat Wong in Canberra/AAP with J-Wire
