Israeli commander defends ordering strike that killed Zomi Frankcom
An Israeli commander who ordered a deadly drone strike on an aid convoy in Gaza, killing Australian woman Zomi Frankcom, says he stands by his decision.
Colonel Nochi Mendel, the Israeli commander who ordered a drone strike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six of her colleagues, has defended his decision to launch the attack. In an interview conducted in October 2025, Mendel stated he did not intend to harm any of the WCK employees and that he did not regret his actions.
However, the IDF dismissed Mendel from his role due to what it described as a series of failures, including a violation of the IDF's rules of engagement and standard operating procedure. The Frankcom family and the Albanese government criticized the IDF's decision not to prosecute those involved in the strike. Mendel blamed the incident on misidentification of the convoy occupants as Hamas members due to the presence of armed security and a complex operational environment in Gaza.
He claimed he saw armed men climbing onto the trucks and firing, but decided not to attack them to avoid harming the WCK aid workers.
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