Australia has sharply criticised Israel’s decision not to pursue criminal charges over the 2024 killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six colleagues in Gaza, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong describing the decision as deeply unacceptable.
Frankcom, who worked with World Central Kitchen (WCK), was among seven humanitarian workers killed when an Israeli military strike hit their convoy in April 2024.
The incident triggered international outrage and renewed scrutiny of Israel’s military procedures in Gaza.
Wong said Australia expected far greater accountability and summoned Israeli Ambassador Hillel Newman for an explanation following the latest decision.
Wong Calls Israeli Decision ‘Insufficient’
Speaking after her meeting with Newman, Wong said the Israeli position left major questions unanswered.
She questioned how the deaths could be attributed to a catastrophic error if, after the first strike, two additional attacks hit the convoy only minutes later.
The minister also rejected the disciplinary measures previously taken against Israeli personnel as inadequate.
Two officers were removed from their positions and three others were reprimanded following an earlier investigation.
For Wong, those actions did not amount to sufficient accountability for the deaths of seven humanitarian workers.
She also revealed that Australia had repeatedly requested audio recordings from the drone involved in the operation but had still not received them.
Israel Says No Criminal Conduct Was Established
The Israel Defense Forces said its latest assessment identified serious failures in the chain of events surrounding the attack but did not establish reasonable grounds to suspect criminal misconduct by the commanders involved.
According to the IDF, an armed guard travelling with the humanitarian convoy had not been properly identified before the vehicles began their journey and was mistakenly believed to be a Hamas fighter.
The military also maintained that the convoy moved away from the route that had been coordinated with Israeli forces.
While acknowledging failures in procedures, identification and decision-making, the IDF concluded that the commanders’ actions did not warrant a criminal investigation.
Newman defended that position after meeting Wong, arguing that the operation involved no intention to kill civilians.
He said he could express sorrow and grief to the families but stopped short of offering an apology, saying such an admission could have legal consequences.
World Central Kitchen Rejects Israel’s Account
World Central Kitchen strongly disputed the Israeli military’s conclusions and called for an independent investigation.
The organisation said the IDF investigation failed to provide a credible account of what happened and instead shifted responsibility for the deaths onto circumstances surrounding the convoy.
WCK said Israeli forces knew the humanitarian team’s vehicles were clearly marked, knew the identities and movements of the workers and had sufficient visibility of the convoy before and during the strikes.
The organisation argued that the Israeli military could not credibly investigate its own conduct and insisted that an independent process was necessary.
Frankcom Was Among Seven Aid Workers Killed
Frankcom was travelling with six other WCK workers when the convoy was attacked.
Those killed included three British nationals, a Palestinian, a Polish national and a dual US-Canadian citizen.
The deaths prompted widespread condemnation because the workers were delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza and had reportedly coordinated their movements with Israeli authorities.
An investigation led by former Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin in August 2024 found serious failures in the IDF’s procedures that contributed to the killings.
Israel subsequently described the attack as a grave mistake.
Decision Announced on World Humanitarian Day
Wong said the Australian government learned of Israel’s decision late on Wednesday, making the timing particularly painful because it came on World Humanitarian Day.
She described the outcome as especially insulting given Israel’s own previous admission that the strikes resulted from serious procedural failures, mistaken identification and errors in judgment.
Australia, she said, would continue pressing Israel to deliver justice for Frankcom and her colleagues.
Her comments represent one of Canberra’s strongest public criticisms of the Israeli military since the Gaza war began.
Israel’s Broader Investigations Raise Questions
The IDF announcement also covered other deaths involving Palestinians and humanitarian workers.
In the same statement, the military said it would launch a criminal investigation into the killing of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who died in Gaza in 2024.
An ambulance that was sent to rescue Rajab after coordination with the Israeli army was also attacked, killing two paramedics.
The IDF additionally said it would investigate the deaths of 15 Palestinians, including medical workers and a United Nations employee, whose bodies were discovered in March 2025 near crushed vehicles and shallow graves.
The decision to investigate those incidents while declining to open a criminal case over the Frankcom killings has added another layer of controversy.
Diplomatic Tensions Continue to Grow
The dispute places further strain on relations between Australia and Israel as international scrutiny of military conduct and civilian protection in Gaza continues.
For Australia, the central issue is no longer simply whether the attack was a mistake, but whether the response has provided meaningful accountability for the people who were killed.
Wong has made clear that Canberra does not consider the current outcome sufficient and intends to continue seeking answers from Israel.
The World Central Kitchen has similarly maintained that only an independent investigation can establish a credible account of the events surrounding the deadly convoy strikes.
What Happens Next?
Australia is expected to continue diplomatic pressure on Israel while seeking further information about the military operation, including the drone audio that Wong said had not been provided.
The dispute could also increase calls from humanitarian organisations and international governments for independent investigations into alleged violations involving aid workers and civilians in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel’s decision not to pursue criminal charges against those involved in the Frankcom attack is likely to remain a major point of contention between Canberra, humanitarian organisations and the Israeli government.
Summary
Australia has condemned Israel’s decision not to prosecute those responsible for the 2024 killing of Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza.
Penny Wong said Israel’s response did not meet Australia’s expectations for accountability and questioned why multiple strikes hit the convoy after the initial attack.
The IDF acknowledged serious failures but said its commanders did not appear to have engaged in criminal misconduct.
World Central Kitchen rejected that conclusion and demanded an independent investigation, while Israel’s ambassador defended the military’s findings.
The controversy now threatens to deepen diplomatic tensions as Australia continues pressing for answers and accountability over the deaths of the seven aid workers.
