Australia Seeks Charges Over 2024 Israeli Airstrike in Gaza That Killed Australian Aid Worker
MELBOURNE: Australia has formally called for criminal charges over a 2024 Israeli airstrike on an aid convoy in Gaza that killed seven people, including an Australian citizen, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday, in a move that has intensified diplomatic tensions between Canberra and Tel Aviv.
Albanese said he raised the issue directly with visiting Israeli President Isaac Herzog, stressing Australia’s demand for accountability over the April 1, 2024 drone strike that killed aid workers associated with World Central Kitchen. Among the dead was Australian national Zomi Frankcom, along with an American-Canadian dual citizen, a Palestinian, a Polish national, and three British security personnel.
The prime minister described the incident as both a tragedy and an outrage, citing the findings of an Australian inquiry that concluded the strike resulted from procedural failures and errors by the Israeli military. He said Australia continues to seek transparency in Israel’s investigation and expects appropriate criminal charges to be pursued.
“There must be full accountability,” Albanese said, adding that the issue was a key focus of his discussions with Herzog during the visit.
President Herzog did not immediately respond publicly to Australia’s request. His visit to Australia has been marked by controversy, drawing both political support and sharp opposition. While major political parties backed the diplomatic engagement, several lawmakers and protest groups condemned the visit, accusing Israeli leadership of contributing to civilian suffering in Gaza.
Addressing Parliament, Albanese defended the decision to host Herzog, saying dialogue was necessary to advance Australia’s national interests and to directly raise concerns over the aid workers’ deaths.
Herzog described his visit as “very emotional,” particularly in light of a recent antisemitic attack in Sydney that killed 15 people. He said strengthening bilateral relations remained important despite disagreements over the Gaza conflict.
The visit triggered widespread demonstrations across Australia. Thousands of protesters gathered in Sydney and Melbourne, with hundreds assembling outside Parliament House in Canberra. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and called for Herzog’s arrest. Police arrested dozens during protests in Sydney, prompting criticism from opposition lawmakers and civil rights groups over the handling of demonstrations.
Australian officials defended the heightened security measures, citing concerns over potential clashes between protesters and mourners attending events linked to Herzog’s visit.
Before returning to Israel, Herzog is scheduled to visit Melbourne, where further protests are expected, including a stop at the site of a synagogue destroyed in a 2024 arson attack — an incident Australian authorities later linked to Iranian involvement.