Australia has summoned Israel's ambassador and recalled its own envoy's messaging after Israel declined to open a criminal investigation into the April 2024 Gaza airstrike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen staff.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed outrage at the decision, calling it "particularly offensive" given it was communicated on World Humanitarian Day. She said the move fell short of the accountability Australia expects and confirmed Israeli Ambassador Hillel Newman would be called in for formal talks, while Australia's envoy in Israel was instructed to relay Canberra's position directly.
The Israel Defense Forces had attributed the strike to grave procedural failures and misidentification, dismissing two officers and reprimanding three others. World Central Kitchen has strongly disputed that account. Domestically, calls have mounted for sanctions and for the ambassador's expulsion, while the government says it is considering further steps.