Australia calls for international probe into Zomi Frankcom killing

Calls are mounting for a joint international investigation into the Israeli airstrike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six colleagues in Gaza. The strike targeted a World Central Kitchen convoy in April 2024. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) decision not to open a criminal investigation into the incident as an “outrage,” stating it falls short of expected accountability and international law obligations.

Independent MP Zali Steggall and international law experts have proposed an MH17-style investigation involving Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom to establish facts and ensure evidence is independently tested. This comes as the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) raised concerns regarding Israeli military veterans participating in the Sydney Marathon, requesting they be subjected to police questioning.

While the IDF recently published findings from an internal review of five incidents in Gaza—referring two cases involving suspected criminal misconduct to military police—the specific strike on the World Central Kitchen convoy remains a point of significant diplomatic and legal contention.