Australia to name special adviser to lead investigation into deaths of Gaza aid workers

Australia has announced plans to appoint a special adviser to collaborate with Israel in ensuring transparency during the investigation into an airstrike in Gaza that tragically claimed the lives of seven aid workers, including one Australian.

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has demanded thorough explanations regarding the tragic deaths of aid workers from the US-based World Central Kitchen at the hands of Israeli forces last Monday.

Among the team members were Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, a 43-year-old Australian national, alongside colleagues from the UK, Palestine, Poland, and the US-Canada region.

Wong told reporters Saturday that information about the strike provided so far by Israel was not sufficient and that the Australian government wants its own “suitably qualified person” to monitor the investigation.

“The government will appoint a special adviser who we have requested the Israelis work with so we can be advised about the appropriateness of the process,” Wong said.

“We want to have full confidence in the transparency and accountability of any investigation.”

Israeli forces said it fired two officers over the killing of the aid workers in Gaza, where humanitarian groups say famine is imminent.

But the rare admission of wrongdoing by Israel did not quell calls for an independent probe.

The deaths of the aid workers led to a tense call between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Wong said details of the special adviser will be announced in the “very near future”.

On October 7, an unprecedented attack from the territory by Hamas members resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people in southern Israel, according to Israeli figures.

Palestinian fighters also took around 250 Israeli and foreign hostages, about 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including more than 30 the army says are dead.

Israel’s offensive has killed at least 33,137 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the territory.