Israeli ambassador rejects 'political attacks' on report clearing soldiers in Frankcom killing

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has expressed a lack of confidence in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) findings regarding the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six other humanitarian workers in Gaza. The two-year investigation by the IDF cleared the soldiers involved of criminal wrongdoing. Wong demanded an explanation from Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, about the IDF's findings and the subsequent lack of accountability for the deaths.

Newman defended the investigation, arguing that the soldiers' actions did not rise to the level of criminal misconduct. Wong highlighted several questions that remained unanswered, including the IDF's failure to disclose audio evidence of the attack and its repeated refusal to hand over relevant footage. She also pointed out that Israel had recruited armed personnel to the convoy and deviated from the agreed route, leading the soldiers to believe the convoy had been taken over.

Wong rejected calls to expel the ambassador, stating that severing diplomatic relations would not help advance Australia's interests on the issue. The Frankcom family called for an independent and credible investigation, expressing disappointment with Israel's decision to absolve the soldiers of criminal wrongdoing.