Key Points
- The Australian inquiry into Zomi Frankcom’s death was given access to Israel’s drone footage of the deadly strike.
- No audio was provided with the footage shown to the head of the inquiry, retired Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she raised a request for audio on behalf of Frankcom’s family but had no response.
Israel is yet to provide the audio from the footage of the drone strike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, despite a request from the Australian Government.
Speaking from New York, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she has raised a request for the audio from the family of the in an airstrike on 1 April.
“I have raised Zomi Frankcom’s family’s request for that with my counterpart. As yet, I have not had a response,” Wong told SBS World News.
Earlier this year Australia ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstance of her death, headed by retired Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin.
He did not have investigative powers, but was able to travel to Israel in May and had access to representatives of the Israeli Defence Force.
The final report found the strike on the aid convoy was a “not knowingly or deliberately directed at the WCK”, in line with Israel’s own conclusion that it was a “grave mistake”.
Air Chief Marshal Binskin was also given access to view 90 minutes of unedited drone footage including the World Central Kitchen strike and other strikes, but that did not include an audio track.
The report detailed the drone footage showed the operator tracking the convoy before the strike, and during the transit period, when the strike took place and afterwards.
Zomi Frankcom’s brother Mal Frankcom raised concerns about the missing audio in an interview with the ABC last month.
Mr Frankcom said he was told the audio was in Hebrew and would not be understood, but he’s still pushing for a translation or transcript.
The minister has confirmed she has not had access either.
“I have not personally listened to the audio,” Senator Wong said.
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week Senator Wong is after the deadliest year on record.
The death of Zomi Frankcom has been central to that quest.
“I’m determined to do what we can to work with other countries, whether it’s Indonesia, Switzerland and Jordan, who all attended this meeting yesterday to galvanise action for compliance with and commitment to international humanitarian law, including the protection of aid workers,” the minister said.
The Israeli Defence Force has been contacted for comment.
