Australia criticises Israel’s decision to clear soldiers over death of aid worker

Canberra, Aug 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said on Thursday that Australia is "outraged" over Israel's decision to clear military personnel of criminal wrongdoing in a 2024 airstrike that killed an Australian aid worker in Gaza.

Australian Zomi Frankcom was one of seven people who were killed when the World Central Kitchen convoy they were travelling in to deliver food in Gaza was targeted by an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike on April 1, 2024.

The IDF said on Wednesday that it had completed a review of the incident and concluded that there were serious failures that led soldiers to falsely assess that the vehicles contained Hamas operatives, but that the decisions of commanders did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct.

Responding on Thursday, Wong said in a statement that the decision fell short of the accountability Australia expects, reports Xinhua news agency.

"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," she said.

She said it was "especially insulting" to Frankcom's loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians that the decision was handed down on World Humanitarian Day.

"The Australian government will not stop pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues," she said.

"I will call in Israel's Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman and have directed Australia's ambassador to Israel to convey our views directly to Israel as the Australian government considers next steps."

In a speech to mark World Humanitarian Day at Parliament House prior to the Israeli decision on Wednesday, Wong said that Australia was continuing to press Israel for full accountability for the deaths of Frankcom and her colleagues.

Source: IANS