Israel clears soldiers of wrongdoing over Australian Zomi Frankcom's death; Suspended Sydney Swans players apologise for their behaviour; Australia recalls Matt Renshaw for second test against Bangladesh.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Israel clears soldiers of wrongdoing over Australian Zomi Frankcom's death.
- Suspended Sydney Swans players apologise for their behaviour.
- Australia recalls Matt Renshaw for second test against Bangladesh.
Israel's military has cleared soldiers of criminal wrongdoing in a 2024 strike in Gaza that killed seven aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom.
Israel's Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism says there's no reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct to justify the opening of a criminal investigation into the deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers.
The Israeli military says it will open an internal investigation into the January 2024 killing of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab [[hind (AN IN HINDER) RAH-jab]], who was pinned down in a car for hours, begging Palestinian medics by mobile phone to send help, while her aunt, uncle and three cousins already lay dead.
Her grandmother, also named Hind Rajab, says the family doesn't have high hopes for the investigation.
"We, as Hind Rajab's family, we do not trust the judiciary of the state of Israel. We hope that justice will be from the entire world. We appeal to the international justice system as a whole."
Israel says it's never deliberately targeted civilians in the Gaza war.
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Gaza health officials say an Israeli strike on the Gaza City police headquarters has killed at least nine people and injured 20.
A spokesperson for the Al- Shifa Hospital says those killed include a 13-year-old girl, as well as several police officers.
The Israeli military says the strike targeted Hamas militants operating from the police station.
Displaced Gaza city resident Abu Jihad says those impacted are civilians.
”We were sitting in the park when we saw this place targeted. We are displaced people. We saw injuries among children, young people, and the elderly. How long will we remain in this war?”
Attacks have continued in the Palestinian territory in recent days, despite a renewed push by the United States to advance a long-term Gaza peace plan.
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The five Sydney Swans players suspended for the rest of this A-F-L season have apologised for their behaviour.
Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon, and Chad Warner say they are deeply sorry to everyone involved after breaking team rules in the hours after the side's win over Essendon in Melbourne.
Victoria Police are investigating an allegation of sexual assault resulting from the night out after the game.
The club's suspension of the five players relates to the breaking of team rules and was made independently of the ongoing police investigation.
None of the players have been charged with any crime.
Swans chairman Andrew Pridham says the club is also trying to mend fences in the wake of what's happened.
"We've had a magnificent relationship with our many fans, corporate partners, and the community in general, over many, many years. And we really want to rebuild that, and work with everybody. Hopefully, people can see how seriously we have taken this matter. And we are very proud of our culture that we have built over many, many years at the club. We get more right than we get wrong."
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First Nations legal groups have accused the Prime Minister of failing to show leadership on the mass incarceration of indigenous children.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services says the Prime Minister has refused to meet with them and are calling on the government to fulfill their moral obligations to keep indigenous communities safe.
The organisation says more than 200 organisations and 1,500 individuals have signed an open letter urging Mr Albanese to call an emergency summit on youth justice.
NATSILS General Manager Nick Espie says the Commonwealth has the power to make changes.
“The Commonwealth does have levers. We provided them with expert legal counsel advice that sets out their constitutional powers. They can set minimum standards when it comes to issues of child safety, and we're urging the Prime Minister to act on that and do so now. These are issues that are affecting all states and territories in the race to the bottom of progressive and punitive laws that see our children locked up, that don't see our children thriving and succeeding and getting the help and supports they need."
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In cricket, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey is praising the maturity of the recalled Matt Renshaw, ahead of the second Test match against Bangladesh, which starts in Mackay this Saturday.
Renshaw has been picked for the match in place of opening batsman Jake Weatherald, who's been dropped after Australia's defeat in the first Test in Darwin last weekend.
Renshaw has played 14 Test matches, scattered over more than six years, and is set to play his first one since 2023.
Carey says Australia will be getting the best version of Renshaw yet.
"Yeah, he's definitely, I guess, matured as a cricketer- as you do. You move in to your 30s and you learn a lot about yourself, you learn a lot about the game, and the challenges that come with that. He's represented Australia now in all three formats. He's got the balance between attack and defence."
