Israel's military has decided it will not open a criminal investigation into the airstrike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six of her colleagues in Gaza, despite launching probes into two other high-profile incidents involving its troops.
The announcement came on Wednesday as the Israeli military released findings from a sweeping review of 150 incidents of troop conduct during the Gaza war, making decisions on five specific cases. The April 2024 strike on a World Central Kitchen aid convoy attack was among them — but the military concluded there was "no reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct that would justify the opening of a criminal investigation."
What Happened to Zomi Frankcom
Frankcom, an Australian humanitarian worker, was killed on 1 April 2024 when an Israeli airstrike struck a World Central Kitchen convoy in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Six other aid workers died alongside her. The vehicles were clearly marked as belonging to the humanitarian organisation, yet the Israeli military initially claimed the convoy was being used by Hamas before later acknowledging errors in identification and decision-making.
In the aftermath, two Israeli officers were dismissed from their positions and three senior officers were formally reprimanded. No criminal charges were ever laid, and Wednesday's announcement makes clear that position will not change.
The Australian government and Frankcom's family have consistently demanded full transparency and accountability. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised her death directly with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during the leader's visit to Australia in February. Australia has also formally requested audio and drone strike footage of the incident on behalf of Frankcom's family.
Two Other Incidents Will Face Criminal Investigation
While the World Central Kitchen case is closed, the Israeli military confirmed it would proceed with criminal investigations into two other incidents that drew widespread international condemnation.
The first involves the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab in February 2024. Hind was trapped in a vehicle alongside the bodies of her aunt, uncle and three cousins as Israeli forces advanced through Gaza City. She spent hours on a phone call with Palestinian medics, pleading for help, before contact was lost when an ambulance finally reached her. Twelve days later, her body, along with those of her relatives and the two ambulance workers who came to help her, was recovered from the scene.
The second investigation concerns the killing of 15 Palestinian paramedics in the southern city of Rafah in May 2025. Israeli troops fired on their vehicles, then buried the bodies in a mass grave. The military's initial claim — that the vehicles were advancing suspiciously without headlights or emergency signals — collapsed after footage emerged showing the Red Crescent and Civil Defence teams driving slowly with their emergency lights clearly flashing and organisational logos visible.
Australia Continues to Push for Accountability
Foreign Minister Penny Wong addressed Frankcom's death the night before Israel made its announcement, speaking at a World Humanitarian Day event at Parliament House in Canberra. An award was launched in Frankcom's honour at the event.
"Two years on from Zomi Frankcom's death, the pain of her loss remains with us," Senator Wong said. "People like Zomi are rare, and their courage deserves to be celebrated."
Wong also reaffirmed the government's commitment to seeking answers, saying Australia would continue pressing Israel for full accountability over the deaths of Frankcom and her colleagues.
Australia has taken broader steps on the international stage in response to the killing. Foreign Minister Wong launched a multilateral declaration to protect humanitarian personnel on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2025, with Frankcom's brother Mal Frankcom present for the occasion. The move underscored Australia's push to strengthen legal and diplomatic protections for aid workers operating in conflict zones.
Israel's decision not to pursue criminal accountability for the convoy strike is likely to intensify pressure from Canberra, with Wednesday's announcement leaving the Frankcom family no closer to the justice they have sought for more than a year.
