Australia Warns of Strained Ties With Israel After Probe Into Aid Worker Deaths Closed

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong declared on Thursday that bilateral relations with Israel have become “difficult” following Jerusalem’s decision to close its investigation into the killing of Australian aid worker Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom and six colleagues in Gaza.

Frankcom was among seven World Central Kitchen staff members killed in April 2024 when an Israeli airstrike hit their clearly marked aid convoy. The deaths sparked international condemnation and intensified demands for stronger protections for humanitarian workers operating in the enclave.

This week, the Israeli military announced it would not launch criminal investigations into the fatalities, a move that drew sharp rebuke from Canberra. Wong summoned Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, describing the timing of the announcement — on World Humanitarian Day — as “especially insulting and hurtful.” She has also instructed Australia’s envoy in Israel to convey the government’s position directly to Israeli authorities.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Wong stated Canberra has lost confidence in the integrity of Israel’s investigative process. “The Australian government will continue to keep pressing Israel for justice,” she affirmed.

For his part, Ambassador Newman conveyed “deep sorrow and grief” to Frankcom’s family but maintained that Israel had no intention of targeting the aid workers. “The decision is that there’s no criminal liability. We must respect that conclusion,” he said, adding that there were “a lot of haters of Israel in Australia.”

World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés denounced the ruling on X as “wrong and painful,” insisting there was “no excuse for their attacks on our team.” The U.S.-based charity labeled the decision “inconsistent with the full truth and deeply offensive” and demanded an independent commission of inquiry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously acknowledged the military “unintentionally” killed the volunteers.

Source link