How did this happen?' Penny Wong asks Israel counterpart over aid worker death | ABC News

international condemnation following the Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers in Gaza including of course Australian Zomie Frankham. Let's bring in our Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Minister very good morning to you. Good morning Michael. You spoke to your Israeli counterpart Israel Katz overnight about this. What did you tell him? Well can I first start by saying to you that you know we we honour the life of Zomie Frankham. We mourn her loss, express our deepest sympathies and condolences to her family. You're right I spoke with my counterpart the Foreign Minister of Israel late last night and I expressed to him the outrage that Australians feel. I expressed to him that the death of any aid worker and the death of Zomie Frankham was outrageous and unacceptable, that we condemn the strike and we expect full accountability from Israel for what has occurred. On the accountability front what if anything did he say to you about that? Well he made clear to me in our discussion which Prime Minister Netanyahu has made overnight that this was as a consequence of an IDF strike. Obviously the circumstances of how that could possibly have occurred have yet to be investigated fully but I would say this. Zomie Frankham and her colleagues and other aid workers go into a conflict zone in order to try and alleviate the suffering, the humanitarian catastrophe which is occurring in Gaza and they ought have been protected. Well on that front their charity World Central Kitchen was doing everything right that the aid vehicles it says were clearly marked, their coordinates, the movement coordinates were shared with the Israeli military as would any aid organisation on risk management grounds. So again how could this possibly happen? That is exactly the question that the government is asking Israel to answer. I've seen those reports, I've seen the reports that the safety measures that you've described including sharing of coordinates with the IDF, the Israeli Defence Force, occurred which makes it all the more, raises an even greater question of how it is possible that something as outrageous as this should have occurred. It's simply not acceptable Michael. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did say overnight it was in his words an unintended strike. He also went on to say and I'm quoting him directly this happens in wartime. What do you make of that statement? Well I would say to Mr Netanyahu that wartime does not obviate responsibility for observing international humanitarian law including the protection of aid workers and that the Australian Government on behalf of the Australian people and on behalf of Zomie Francom expects full accountability for what has occurred. That the death of an aid worker in these circumstances is unacceptable. Okay if it's found that yes the charity did everything right, these aid vehicles were marked, their coordinates duly shared and the airstrike happened anyway, Israel therefore ipso facto breaches international law, what does the Australian Government do next? Well I think your question started with an if so we will listen and observe and consider what is put to us as the inquiry takes place and we expect full accountability and you know any further steps will be something we consider after that point but I'll make a broader point Michael. Israel is bound by international humanitarian law. Israel should comply for example with the recent decision of the International Court of Justice in relation to the provision of humanitarian aid at scale in Gaza. We reiterate our call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and I say again to you publicly what I've said to my counterparts directly and what I've said previously publicly that Israel, unless Israel, Mr Netanyahu changes his course of action, Israel will continue to lose support. We say to Mr Netanyahu you must change course. But that's exactly the point you've said that about changing course as have other countries but the Israeli Government is showing no sign of doing that. In fact arguably doubling down the Prime Minister, they're very keen to persist with this ground offensive in Rafah, he keeps talking about his words total victory. You're telling Israel to change course but they're not. Well it's, well the, it's actually not just me telling Israel, the United Nations Security Council. But that's the point the international community is and nothing's happening. Well you know unfortunately you and I both know that nation states make their decisions and those decisions may include acting in ways which diminish their standing internationally. What do you mean by that? Precisely what I've said, that I believe Israel is losing support as a consequence of the actions of the course it is taking and I think Australians see that. I think we see that in the fact that the United Nations Security Council has called for a humanitarian ceasefire, that this was not vetoed by any of the permanent members. I think that is the strongest signal possible that can be sent by the international, the international tribunals or international entities. Would the Australian Government ever consider sanctions against Israel? If all these measures weren't taken, if courses weren't changed and if this inquiry found that this aid convoy was struck intentionally. Well whether it's in relation to Russia or Myanmar or Iran, I think you might have asked me those questions previously and we don't speculate on sanctions. Would you include, would that include, and I've got to ask the question, the expulsion of either the Israeli ambassador here or other Israeli diplomats? No well we have, I've also expressed a view because that's been put to me also in relation to those countries and other countries that we maintain diplomatic relationships with many countries and we will continue to do so because that is, apart from anything, an important way for us to express our views about issues which are important to Australians. Finally, you've spoken to the Israeli Foreign Minister overnight. How important is it given how grave the situation is? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks directly with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. I think I expressed, I believe and the Government believes that this obviously is an issue that we need Israel to address. The Australian community needs Israel to address. So of course we would expect Mr Netanyahu to make himself available for a call. Penny Wong, really appreciate your time this morning. Thank you. Thank you.