Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed "deep outrage" on Thursday at Israel's decision to close a criminal investigation into the death of humanitarian worker Zomi Frankcom and her colleagues in the Gaza Strip.
Wong announced in a statement that she will summon Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hilel Neumann, and indicated that she has asked Australia's ambassador to Israel to communicate Canberra's position directly to Israel. The official noted that the Australian government is examining the next steps.
The Australian government was informed of Israel's decision in the early hours of the previous day, minutes before its announcement, Wong added, describing it as "a profound affront" to Frankcom's family, humanitarian workers and all Australians. The statement noted that the news came on International Humanitarian Workers Day.
Frankcom was among employees of the US-based charity World Central Kitchen who died in an airstrike by the Israeli military against its convoy in April 2024 while distributing food and water. The deceased also included three British nationals, one American-Canadian, one Pole and one Palestinian, which sparked global outrage and calls to ensure the safety of humanitarian teams in Palestinian territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the military killed the volunteers "unintentionally". However, the Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it would not open criminal investigations into their deaths.
Wong responded by saying that Frankcom "represented the best of Australia" and that her courage deserved to be recognised while her family deserves justice. "This decision falls far short of the level of accountability we expect," she added.
