Israeli military’s ‘serious failures’ killed Aussie aid worker in Gaza, report says

“Serious failures” in Israeli military practices were responsible for the deaths of Australian aid worker Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom and six of her colleagues in April, according to a report commissioned by the Australian government. The report confirmed Ms Frankcom, who worked for non-profit World Central Kitchen, was killed in Gaza in an “intentional strike” carried out by Israel, Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a press conference on Friday. Speaking alongside the report’s author Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, the senator extended her condolences to Ms Frankcom’s family and friends, saying the slain aid worker’s “selflessness, her courage and her service to others” was honourable. “The deaths of Ms Frankcom and her colleagues were inexcusable,” Ms Wong said. “It is clear those deaths were a consequence of a failure of IDF controls, errors in decision-making and misidentification, a failure to comply with senior command direction and a violation of IDF procedures and rules of engagement.” The minsiter went on to say Israel was “bound by international humanitarian law” and therefore was obliged to protect civilians and allow provision of aid. She said she had written to her Israeli counterpart about “the urgent need” for aid to get through to Gaza as well as better protection for humanitarian workers. “We want more aid to flow and we will do all we are able to to achieve this,” the senator said. “Of course the best way to protect aid workers, civilians, health workers and others is to achieve the release of hostages and increased humanitarian access to a ceasefire.” Israel’s incursion into Gaza was sparked by Palestinian militant group Hamas’ brutal October 7 attacks that killed approximately 1200. The group kidnapped hundreds of civilians, including children, and took them back into Gaza. Minister Wong called for the unconditional release of all hostages in her remarks. “The terrorist organisation Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release hostages, and we are pressing countries with influence over Hamas to help achieve that aim,” she said.