Australia Outraged as Israel Drops Criminal Proceedings Over Killing of Aid Worker

Australia has expressed profound outrage over Israel’s decision not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues in Gaza in April 2024. Frankcom and six other aid workers were killed when an Israeli airstrike struck their convoy as they were delivering humanitarian assistance in the besieged territory.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Thursday that the decision to exonerate those responsible “falls far short of the accountability we expect.” She also criticized Israel for failing to notify Australia in advance, saying the Australian government learned of the decision only moments before it was publicly announced on World Humanitarian Day.

Wong said the lack of notice prevented the government from informing Frankcom’s family before the announcement and described the circumstances as particularly “insulting and hurtful” to her loved ones, humanitarian workers and Australians. She said she had conveyed Australia’s outrage directly to Israeli Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman.