The killing of seven humanitarian workers was a "mistake" that Israel should learn from, the Coalition's foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham says.
In a marked contrast to the language of Labor ministers, Senator Birmingham told the ABC's Insiders it would be "naive [to] pretend that tragedies and mistakes don't happen in war".
Last week, an Israeli strike killed aid workers from World Central Kitchen, including Australian Zomi Frankcom.
Israel is investigating and has dismissed two officers over the strike, which it said broke its own rules but has said was accidental.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the airstrike was the sort of thing that "happens in wartime".
But Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said the matter cannot be "brushed aside" and has called for "full accountability", announcing plans to appoint a "special adviser" to keep Australia informed about Israel's investigation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday afternoon the appointment was "imminent".
Senator Birmingham declined to indicate whether he supported a special adviser, saying the Coalition first wanted to "see the details of what the role of the special adviser will be and how it is appointed".
But he suggested confidence in Israel's ability to investigate itself, while also emphasising that it must ensure similar incidents do not occur.
"Unlike Hamas, Israel does have processes," he said.
"We want to see clear action taken on understanding how this tragedy occurred … [that] requires Israel clearly to look carefully at procedural failures that occurred.
"We want to understand how procedures will change to ensure that humanitarian workers can operate safely … we expect that those processes should continue to be transparent."
Senator Birmingham said he was "not either qualified nor in possession of the facts" to assess whether Israel acted in accordance with international law in regards to the strike, or any other actions.
"Clearly when [there are] mistakes like the one that has just occurred … Israel should be learning from each of those mistakes … It is upon Israel in terms of the eyes of the world to act within the bounds of international law."
But he reiterated support for Israel's war aims.
"None of us should lose sight of the broader moral context in which this war has been fought," he said.
"[Hamas] is a terrorist organisation, recognised as such here in Australia, that is committed to the elimination of Israel … no country could or would live alongside that type of threat."
While the government has also supported Israel's right to self-defence, its criticisms of the Israeli government have become stronger in recent weeks, and in particular since the death of Zomi Frankcom.
Some of its ministers have consistently gone further than the foreign minister and the prime minister, and did so again this week.
Industry Minister Ed Husic said on Sunday the Coalition had been "utterly silent" and "particularly weak" in response to the death.
He also said Israel was not "genuinely committed" to upholding international law.
"I believe this reflects a systemic failure within the Israeli government," he said.
"That's why you've seen 33,000 Palestinians killed, 14.5 thousand of which are children."
And on Thursday Childcare Minister Anne Aly said Israel was not abiding by the rules of war.
"This is not war. War has rules, rules that have been agreed upon by the international community … Israel has been urged to abide by those rules," she said.
"The systematic destruction of an entire people … these are not things that just happen in war.
"If the Israeli government wants to continue to utilise war as a context for its actions, then it needs to start abiding by the expected principles of war."
Ms Aly said Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion that aid deaths "happen in wartime" was "offensive to Zomi, it is offensive to her family … it is offensive to the 30,000 Palestinians who have been killed and starved by the actions of Israel".
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2024-04-07 00:33:17Z
CBMiWmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTA0LTA3L2Jpcm1pbmdoYW0tY2FsbHMtZ2F6YS1haWQta2lsbGluZy1taXN0YWtlLzEwMzY3ODgyMNIBKGh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMDM2Nzg4MjA
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