Australia on Thursday condemned Israel's decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong saying the move comes at a "difficult time" in relations between Canberra and Tel Aviv.
Australia summoned Israeli Ambassador Hillel Newman to Parliament House over the decision, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
"Australia is outraged the Israeli Government has decided not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues," Wong said.
Speaking after the meeting, Wong said the decision not to proceed with a criminal investigation failed to address key questions raised during the inquiry.
"I think we have an Australian humanitarian worker who was killed not on the first strike, but in the context of three separate strikes on a humanitarian convoy," she said.
Wong reiterated Australia's demand for the release of drone footage from the Israeli strike and said the government would consult Frankcom's family on possible further steps.
Canberra demands accountability
"The Australian Government learned of Israel’s decision late last night, moments before it was announced, on World Humanitarian Day — which is especially insulting to Zomi’s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians," Wong said in an earlier statement.
"This decision falls far short of the accountability we expect."
Wong said the decision came despite Israeli military admissions that the strikes on Frankcom and her colleagues' vehicles resulted from "serious failures to follow IDF (Israeli army) procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making."
She said Australia would continue pressing Israel for accountability, arguing that "democratic countries" should hold themselves to higher standards.
Frankcom was killed in Gaza with six other colleagues by an Israeli air strike in April 2024 while travelling in a convoy of clearly marked aid vehicles.
