Penny Wong condemns ‘insulting’ decision to clear IDF over Gaza strikes that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom

Israeli government decides not to pursue criminal proceedings over 2024 triple drone strike that killed Australian Zomi Frankcom and six others

Australia’s foreign affairs minister has expressed “outrage” over the Israel Defense Forces decision not to open a criminal investigation into Gaza strikes that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six of her colleagues.

But Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, who was called in for formal talks on Thursday, offered no concession, insisting the process was appropriate while refusing to apologise for the seven humanitarian workers’ deaths, citing legal implications.

“There are a lot of haters of Israel in Australia,” Newman said as he left Parliament House. “We have seen this time and time again.”

“A court came to decision that there’s no criminal liability, so we’re not going to lynch people on the streets, no.”

In a statement released on Thursday, Penny Wong called the timing of the decision not to open a criminal investigation, on World Humanitarian Day, “especially insulting”.

In addition to calling in Newman, Wong 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 IDF 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 Frankcom, an Australian aid worker .

The Australian government has previously called the deaths a “tragedy and an outrage” and pressed for full accountability and “any appropriate criminal charges”. In February 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.

“Australia is outraged the Israeli Government has decided not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues,” Wong said in a statement.

“The Australian government learned of Israel’s decision late last night, moments before it was announced, on World Humanitarian Day – which is especially insulting to Zomi’s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians.