Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was "outraged" after Israel chose not to prosecute those responsible for the April 2024 airstrike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six colleagues in Gaza. Canberra called the decision "far short" of expected accountability and will summon Israel's ambassador while directing its envoy in Israel to press for justice. The IDF has acknowledged procedural failures, mistaken identification and decision-making errors; a report by former ADF chief Mark Binskin found "serious failures" in IDF procedures. The case has drawn international criticism and renewed calls for accountability for attacks on humanitarian workers.
Australia 'Outraged' After Israel Declines To Prosecute Over Killing Of Aid Worker Zomi Frankcom — Canberra To Summon Ambassador
Zomi Frankcom was an aid worker with World Central Kitchen [PA Media]
Australia's foreign minister has expressed strong outrage after Israel decided not to prosecute those responsible for the April 2024 airstrike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six colleagues in Gaza.
What Happened
Zomi Frankcom, an Australian national working with World Central Kitchen (WCK), was killed in April 2024 when an Israeli airstrike struck the aid convoy in which she and six colleagues were travelling. The attack also claimed the lives of three British nationals, a Palestinian, a Polish national and a dual US-Canadian citizen.
Australian Response
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the decision not to pursue prosecutions "falls far short of the accountability we expect." She described the timing of Israel's announcement—made late on a Wednesday night and coinciding with World Humanitarian Day—as "especially insulting." Wong said she will summon Israel's Ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, and has directed Australia's Ambassador to Israel to convey Canberra's concerns directly as the government considers next steps.
Penny Wong: "This decision falls far short of the accountability we expect. Australia will continue to press Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues."
Investigations And Findings
Israeli military statements acknowledged that the strikes on the aid vehicles resulted from failures to follow IDF procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making. In August 2024, former Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin produced a report concluding that "serious failures" in IDF procedures contributed to Frankcom's death. At the time of the strike, the IDF described the attack on the aid convoy as a "grave mistake."
Israel's decision not to prosecute in Frankcom's case contrasts with a separate announcement that its military would open a criminal investigation into the shooting that killed five-year-old Hind Rajab, after Israeli forces said soldiers fired at the ambulance transporting her.
What Comes Next
Canberra has signalled it will press for further accountability and pursue diplomatic avenues, including a formal protest delivered by Australia's ambassador in Israel and direct engagement with Israeli officials. The announcement has prompted renewed international attention to the incident and calls for clearer accountability for harms to aid workers operating in conflict zones.
Background
World Central Kitchen provides front-line food assistance in conflict and disaster zones. The killing of aid workers highlights the extreme risks humanitarian teams face and has renewed debate about the protections afforded to neutral humanitarian operations in active conflicts.
Help us improve.
