26 August 2026

ALAN HAYES

 

IN April 2024, Zomi Frankcom and six colleagues from World Central Kitchen were killed when their clearly marked humanitarian convoy in Gaza was hit by successive Israeli airstrikes. Independent reviews, including an evaluation by Australian special adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, confirmed that the attack resulted from severe operational failures, misidentification, and a breakdown of internal procedures within the military.

 

Despite these acknowledged failures, the Israeli military prosecutor announced that no criminal charges would be pursued against the personnel involved. The official rationale asserted that while grave operational errors occurred, there was no explicit criminal intent or malice, categorising the multi-vehicle missile strike as a tragic mistake rather than a criminal act. Releasing this conclusion on World Humanitarian Day amplified the distress of the victims' families and international observers.

 

The decision has drawn sharp rebukes from Canberra. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that the government lacked confidence in the internal military review process and formally summoned the Israeli ambassador to express national indignation.

 

Frankcom’s family and various political figures condemned the self-absolving outcome as a failure of true accountability. The event highlights the limitations of internal military investigations when foreign nationals are killed in active combat zones. When an army investigates its own ranks and sets the threshold for liability strictly at conscious malicious intent, external accountability becomes difficult to secure. For Australia, the closure of the case leaves a painful void, emphasizing the ongoing friction between military self-investigation and the demand for international justice.

 

Zomi and six of her colleagues were systematically hunted and murdered by the Israel Army. This was without a doubt a war crime and those who committed the murderous act should be held responsible. But it seems the genocidal maniac of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, just like his mate, Mad King Donald, believe that he and his cohorts are above the law.

 

The world’s top war-crimes court in 2024 issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza. So, it comes at no surprise that there would be no justice for the murder of Zomi Frankcom and her colleagues.

 

Responding to the news that Israel had cleared soldiers over criminal wrongdoing, Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for International Aid and Global Justice said, "Israel was never going to hold their forces to account for the murder of Zomi Frankom. This is what we warned the Albanese Government about from the beginning, and it was their responsibility to force accountability and justice for Zomi. They have completely failed in their duty.

 

“Prime Minister Albanese should be ashamed and take full responsibility. Australians expect their governments to fight for justice."

 

Israel refuses to take any action because they know there will be no consequences. In 2025 alone, almost 200 aid workers were killed in Gaza, and Palestinians are killed everyday despite a so-called ‘ceasefire’.

 

"The Foreign Minister’s ‘outrage’ is meaningless when the Albanese government continues to call Israel a friend, continues weapons exports to the Israeli military, and refuses to take any action to end or even recognise the genocide," Senator Faruqi said.

 

“This government has failed Zomi Frankcom and aid workers, whose lives represent the very best of us: courage, compassion, and a commitment to humanity in the face of unimaginable suffering.”

 

In Senator Wong's meeting with the Israeli Ambassador she had one mission - she should have told him to pack his bags and then expel him. But she didn't!

 

And what did the Ambassador, Hillel Newman have to say? He defended the Israeli military investigation that cleared its soldiers of any criminality, saying the findings should not be attacked if they "are not suitable to one's political agenda".

 

Despite condemnation of the murders, Israel has dismissed the Albanese government’s outrage over its decision not to charge soldiers who killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six colleagues, saying a “process failure” by Israeli soldiers was not the same as criminal liability.

 

So, why isn't Australia implementing sanctions against Israel? A rogue nation that slaps Zomi Frankcom's family in the face by announcing its decision - no wrongdoing here - on World Humanitarian Day.

 

In a statement, Ms Frankcom's family called on the government to "pursue all available legal avenues" for an "independent and credible" investigation.

 

"Zomi and her colleagues deserve more than an internal, opaque process that ends with a short statement by the Israeli Military absolving their soldiers of criminal wrongdoing," the Frankcom family said.

 

"We call on the Australian Government to seek full disclosure of the evidence underlying Israel's decision, including the relevant visual and audio drone footage."

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