Key facts
- Australia summoned Israel's Ambassador Hillel Newman following the IDF's decision not to pursue criminal proceedings for the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.
- The IDF concluded that the strike on World Central Kitchen vehicles was due to mistaken identity and procedural errors, not criminal misconduct.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed 'outrage' and called the timing of the decision 'especially insulting'.
- Australia's ambassador in Israel has been instructed to convey the government's strong views directly to Israeli officials.
- Zomi Frankcom's family called for full disclosure of evidence and an independent investigation into her death.
Australia summoned Israel's Ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, and expressed outrage over the Israeli military's decision not to pursue criminal proceedings for the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom in an April 2024 Gaza airstrike. Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that the decision "falls far short of the accountability we expect" and called its timing "especially insulting." The Israeli military concluded that there was no criminal liability for the soldiers involved, attributing the strike to mistaken identity and operational failures, though it acknowledged procedural errors. World Central Kitchen, the aid organization Frankcom worked for, strongly refuted the IDF's account, calling the decision "deeply offensive." Australia's ambassador in Israel has been instructed to convey Canberra's views directly to the Israeli government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also expressed "outrage" and vowed to press for justice.