CANBERRA, Australia, Asia-Pacific: Australia summons Israeli ambassador Hillel Newman on August 20 after Israel declined criminal proceedings over the Gaza strike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the decision fell “far short” of the accountability Australia expected. She said Canberra would continue pressing Israel for justice for Frankcom and her colleagues.
The Israeli military said on August 19 that its review found no reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct in the April 2024 strike.
Seven World Central Kitchen aid workers died in the attack. The victims included citizens of Australia, Britain and Poland, Palestinians and a dual US-Canadian citizen.
Read: UN Blacklists Israel for Human Rights Violations Against Children in Gaza
Newman told reporters after meeting Wong that investigators found operational failures but no criminal intent to target aid workers.
He said the convoy had deviated from a pre-approved route and may have carried armed personnel. That led Israeli forces to believe militants had taken control of it, Newman said.
Read: UN Condemns Killings in Gaza Despite Fragile Ceasefire
Wong also instructed Australia’s representative in Israel to convey Canberra’s position directly to the Israeli government. She said Australia was considering its next steps.
Separately, Israel’s military said it would open investigations into other Gaza incidents, including the killing of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and 15 emergency and aid workers.
