Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, following the Israeli authorities’ decision not to launch a criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian Zomi Francom and six other members of the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) in the Gaza Strip. In a written statement, Ms. Wong said she had summoned the Israeli Ambassador to Canberra, Hillel Newman, and instructed the Australian Ambassador to Israel to immediately convey the country’s protest to the Israeli government, as Canberra considers its next diplomatic steps.
The head of Australian diplomacy emphasized that her country was informed just moments before the public announcement—and on World Humanitarian Day, no less—a fact she described as extremely offensive to Francom’s family, humanitarian workers, and all Australians. At the same time, he emphasized that this decision falls far short of the accountability that was expected, noting that the victim’s family deserves justice.
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Zomi Francom and six of her colleagues were killed in April 2024 when the humanitarian convoy they were traveling in was struck by an Israeli airstrike, sparking a global outcry and international mobilization to protect aid workers. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had acknowledged at the time that the strike was due to negligence, the Israeli military announced that no criminal proceedings would be initiated.
For his part, following his meeting with Ms. Wong, Israeli Ambassador Hillel Newman told reporters that there had been no intention to target members of the delegation, reiterating his government’s deep condolences to the family and maintaining that the decision regarding the absence of criminal liability must be respected.
SOURCE: KYPE
