Albanese calls Frankcom decision ‘an outrage’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the Israel Defence Forces’ decision not to open a criminal investigation into the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom an outrage, and signalled Australia will press Israel for an independent inquiry.

The IDF announced last week it had found no reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct over the April 2024 drone strikes that killed Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues, while acknowledging serious failures in targeting.

Albanese told ABC‘s 7.30 there was a need for a far more transparent explanation from Israel, and that an independent investigation was among the options that should be considered.

“It’s certainly not good enough that on World Humanitarian Day of all days, they release this so-called report that essentially says yes, we’re responsible, but nothing to see here,” he said. “Zomi represented the best of Australians … she deserves better, her family deserve better, and frankly, Australia deserves better.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who called in Israel’s ambassador Hillel Newman, said the decision fell “far short of the accountability we expect”.

Israel’s embassy has defended the finding, revealing that President Isaac Herzog personally intervened to advance the investigation. It said operational failures did not necessarily amount to criminal liability, criminal proceedings were not the only form of accountability, and accusing Israel of a cover-up because the findings were not to one’s liking was contrary to standards of law and evidence in democratic states.

Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, appointed as special adviser after the strike, reported in August, 2024, that it was not knowingly or deliberately directed against World Central Kitchen, and that Israel’s investigation and response had been timely, appropriate and, with some exceptions, sufficient.

He found the dismissal of two officers and reprimanding of three others appeared appropriate, and that Israel’s response was in line with the processes of Western militaries including the ADF.

Wong said at the time that Israel’s process was not over, that the Military Advocate-General was still to decide on further action, and that Australia would press for full accountability including any appropriate criminal charges.

World Central Kitchen rejected the IDF’s account as deeply offensive and renewed its call for an independent commission of inquiry.