As Israel obfuscates, Australia sends in retired defence chief to find answers on aid workers

Israel has not yet responded to Australia’s request to review its investigation into the deaths of seven international aid workers in a wrongful missile strike.

Senior figures are optimistic that Israel will cooperate with Australia’s specially appointed adviser, the former defence force chief and retired air chief marshal Mark Binskin, who is tasked to understand exactly how and why the Israel Defense Forces fired on the World Central Kitchen aid convoy, killing Australian Zomi Frankcom and six of her colleagues, and what is being done about it.

The letter laid out their ongoing concerns after the IDF’s reported interim findings, flagging Binskin’s appointment and asking Israel to grant him the access he seeks.

Like Binskin, the Israeli investigator appointed to find out how and why the IDF came to fire on the WCK humanitarian aid convoy after specifically approving its movements is also a former senior military officer.

Binskin’s status also makes it harder for the IDF to deflect his requests for information than it might be if the government had appointed a civilian expert in human rights or even military law instead.

His job is to underscore Australia’s demands for transparency, accountability, rigour and reform of the IDF’s targeting processes and, in asking pointed questions and pressing for answers, to ensure they are delivered.