Australia’s foreign affairs minister has expressed “outrage” and will call in the Israeli ambassador over the IDF decision overnight not to open a criminal investigation into Gaza strikes that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom. In a statement released on Thursday, Penny Wong called the timing of the decision, on World Humanitarian Day, “especially insulting”. Wong said she will call in Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, and has directed Australia’s ambassador to Israel, Neil Hawkins, “to convey our views directly to Israel as the Australian Government considers next steps”.
The April 2024 strike hit a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles, killing seven humanitarian workers from the US-based aid group, which has distributed food in Gaza throughout the war. The aid group said at the time it had coordinated with the military over the movement of its cars. The vehicles, which had the group’s logo on their roofs visible from the air, were left incinerated and mangled, indicating a series of targeted strikes.
The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday it had mistaken several individuals in the vehicles for armed Hamas military operatives, and that the convoy deviated from the previously coordinated route. It concluded that “the decisions of the commanders did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct”. Two officers were removed from their positions at the time and three others reprimanded.
One of those killed in the strike was Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom. The Australian government has called the deaths a “tragedy and an outrage” and pressed for full accountability and “any appropriate criminal charges”. In February this year the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he had made it clear to Israel and its president, Isaac Herzog, that Australia expected transparency about Israel’s then-ongoing investigation into the incident.
Her courage deserves to be celebrated. Her family deserves justice.” Wong said the move “falls far short of the accountability we expect”. The Australian Government will not stop pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues.” World Central Kitchen said it strongly disagreed with Israeli officials’ account of the airstrikes and their decision not to pursue a criminal investigation.
The decision is inconsistent with the full truth and deeply offensive,” it said in a statement. It had full visual clarity on our clearly marked humanitarian vehicles during the extended, multiple airstrikes. It knew our team’s movements, identities and activities in advance.” In April this year, Wong paid tribute to Frankcom on the second anniversary of her death, saying “people like Zomi are rare and their selflessness should not only be celebrated but protected”.
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