Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom's family say they are "deeply disappointed" by Israel's decision not to pursue criminal proceedings over the military strike that killed her in 2024. Ms Frankcom's family is calling on the Federal Government to continue its push for criminal accountability over her death. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Israel should consider an independent investigation into Frankcom's death saying there’s a need for a much more transparent response from Israel.
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TRANSCRIPT
It was an announcement the Australian government learned about mere moments before it went public...
"We had just launched the Zomi Frankcom humanitarian award, and we didn't have the opportunity to inform Zomi's family before Israel's decision was made public because of the lack of notice. To learn of these developments in these circumstances was especially insulting and hurtful to Zomi's loved ones, to humanitarians, and to Australians."
This week, Israel's Military announced a two-year investigation had concluded, saying there was no reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct by military personnel into the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom on a humanitarian mission in Gaza two years ago.
Now, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Israel should consider an independent investigation into Ms Frankcom's death, the aid workers' family has made a series of specific requests to the federal government in their campaign to seek justice from Israel.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with Israel's ambassador to Canberra, Hillel Newman this week to express Australia's outrage.
"And I made clear to him Australia's views that Israel's decision falls far short of the accountability we expect."
The Australian was killed along with six World Central Kitchen colleagues when Israel's military hit a humanitarian convoy in Gaza in April 2024.
The Israeli military says two officers have been dismissed from their positions, and three others formally reprimanded, but Ms Wong says Australia regard these actions as insufficient.
Zomi Frankcom's family is calling on the federal government to pursue all available legal avenues for an independent investigation, and disclosure of key information withheld by Israel.
Senator Wong says the government does not have confidence in the Military Advocate Generals' process, citing a series of unanswered questions.
"These include why, even if the first strike was a catastrophic error, two further strikes followed, each two minutes apart."
She says an Australian investigation conducted by Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin has concluded theses strikes violated IDF standard operating procedures and rules of engagement.
"We still have not had a satisfactory explanation of why the strike occurred in a humanitarian fire control zone, and after High Command had directed the Brigadier Commander not to engage the convoy."
Another key issue is Israel's refusal to provide drone audio - which Hillel Newman has suggested may have been withheld due to intelligence information.
The ambassador has said he grieves with Zomi Frankcom's family, but stopped short of apologising, saying this could have legal implications.
He also defended the credibility of Israel's investigation, saying it was conducted independently, albeit by a body within the military.
"Criminal liability, you know, even if there are failures in the process, it doesn't mean that the person had intention or that there is any criminal responsibility for the action. Now, let me explain. This convoy, which was an aid convoy, decided to put armed personnel on the convoy without telling Israel."
That claim has been contested by the Frankcom family and World Central Kitchen.
"Besides that, they deviated from the route that was planned and was pre-approved. There are specific routes for aid in Gaza. It was a war zone, so there are specific routes. They deviated from the route, this was night time, and they were also delayed in their time in their exit. All these circumstances, conditional aspects, led the soldiers at the time to believe that this convoy had been taken over and controlled by Hamas, and they opened fire."
The Frankcom family has also rebutted this version of events in a detailed statement.
It's being voiced here by a journalist.
"This was not a single, instantaneous strike. Three clearly marked humanitarian vehicles traveling in a humanitarian fire control zone were struck successively as survivors attempted to move from one vehicle to another. We refer to the Special Advisor’s report where upon viewing the drone footage, witnessed the vehicle with the armed gunmen traveling north away from the convoy and noting a decision to discontinue targeting them. Subsequently, they pursued the humanitarian convoy and struck all three vehicles, without authorisation, on a mistaken assumption that one member of the convoy was carrying a gun."
On Thursday evening Foreign Minister Penny Wong continued to escalate Australia's diplomatic efforts, holding a call with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Amid widespread calls for his expulsion, Ambassador Newman has said Israel will look into possibility of reparations.
He also said Israel may be open to facilitating further discussions between Australian and Israeli legal teams
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she will meet with the Frankcom family again as soon as possible.
"Australian government will continue to keep pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues, and we will consult with Zomi Frankcom's family before we announce further steps."
Israel's decision not to pursue a criminal investigation was announced as part of a broader tranche of investigations.
Israel's military did say it would proceed with probes into two other incidents: the killings of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl and her family in February 2024, and of 15 Palestinian paramedics in May 2025, which both prompted global condemnation.
