Arabic version: عائلة فرانكوم تطالب بتحقيق مستقل بعد تقرير الجيش الإسرائيلي

According to ABC News, the family of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom said it was “deeply disappointed” after Israel’s military investigation cleared soldiers of criminal wrongdoing over her death.

In a statement, the family said it did not believe the finding was accurate and continued to call for an independent investigation. Frankcom was killed in April 2024 while on a humanitarian mission in Gaza to deliver food to Palestinians.

The family said the incident was not a single strike. It said three “clearly-marked” humanitarian vehicles were struck successively as survivors attempted to move between vehicles.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she had conveyed Australia’s views to Israel’s ambassador. During Senate Question Time, Wong described the outcome and the circumstances in which it was announced as “outrageous and insulting”, saying there was anger in the Australian community that she shared.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Israel’s decision to close its investigation without criminal proceedings was an outrage and fell far short of the accountability Australia expected. He said the government would continue pressing Israel for justice for Frankcom and her colleagues.

Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government would continue seeking answers from the Israeli government through the ambassador and embassy, rather than pursuing expulsion of the ambassador. He said the government believed continued engagement was the best way to obtain outcomes for Frankcom’s family.