Canberrra: Australia appointed a former chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as its special advisor on Israel's response to strikes that killed aid workers in Gaza.
Australian foreign affairs minister Penny Wong announced on Monday that retired Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mark Binskin is appointed to oversee official probes into Israeli strikes that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) staff in Gaza, reports Xinhua news agency.
Among the killed WCK humanitarian workers, an Australian citizen, Zomi Frankcom, was also there. The WCK worker'ss' convoy was hit by an Israel Defence Force (IDF) airstrike in Central Gaza on April 1 local time.
According to Wong, Binskin was eminently qualified to advise the government on the sufficiency and appropriateness of the steps taken by Israel and on any further actions that could be taken to hold those responsible to account.
She said in a statement, "ACM Binskin will engage with Israel and the Israel Defense Forces on the response to the attack which killed Zomi and her colleagues. Australia has made clear to the Israeli government our expectation and trust that this engagement will be facilitated."
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli forces pulled out of Gaza on Sunday so that they could prepare for future operations, including in the city of Rafah, according to Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Al Jazeera reported.
Mediators resumed ceasefire talks in Cairo in the presence of Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and the CIA chief presence.