Wong said she will call in Israel\u2019s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, and has directed Australia\u2019s ambassador to Israel, Neil Hawkins, \u201cto convey our views directly to Israel as the Australian Government considers next steps\u201d.<\/p>\n
The April 2024 strike hit a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles, killing seven humanitarian workers from the US-based aid group, which has distributed food in Gaza<\/a> throughout the war.<\/p>\n The aid group said at the time it had coordinated with the military over the movement of its cars. The vehicles, which had the group\u2019s logo on their roofs visible from the air, were left incinerated and mangled, indicating a series of targeted strikes.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday<\/a> it had mistaken several individuals in the vehicles for armed Hamas military operatives, and that the convoy deviated from the previously coordinated route. It concluded that \u201cthe decisions of the commanders did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct\u201d. Two officers were removed from their positions at the time and three others reprimanded.<\/p>\n One of those killed in the strike was Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom<\/a>. The Australian government has called the deaths a \u201ctragedy and an outrage\u201d and pressed for full accountability and \u201cany appropriate criminal charges\u201d. In February this year the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he had made it clear to Israel and its president, Isaac Herzog, that Australia expected transparency about Israel\u2019s then-ongoing investigation into the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cAustralia 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,\u201d Wong said in her Thursday morning statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Australian government learned of Israel\u2019s decision late last night, moments before it was announced, on World Humanitarian Day \u2013 which is especially insulting to Zomi\u2019s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians.<\/p>\n \u201cZomi represented the best of Australia. Her courage deserves to be celebrated. Her family deserves justice.\u201d<\/p>\n Wong said the move \u201cfalls far short of the accountability we expect\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is despite Israel Defense Forces admissions that the IDF strikes on Zomi and her colleagues\u2019 vehicles were the result of serious failures to follow IDF procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787180293_596_1920.jpg\")
Australian aid worker killed by Israeli airstrike in Gaza \u2013 video<\/p>\n