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

Israeli ambassador refutes 'political' attacks on IDF investigation clearing soldiers of Frankcom killing In short: Israel's ambassador to Australia says the IDF investigation that cleared soldiers of criminal wrongdoing in the killing of seven aid workers was thorough, rejecting "political attacks" on its findings. Penny Wong called in the ambassador, Hillel Newman, for an explanation after she expressed outrage that the Israeli government would not seek criminal prosecution against personnel involved in the killing of aid worker Zomi Frankcom. What's next? The Greens and prominent human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti have called for the ambassador's expulsion from Australia. Israel's ambassador Hillel Newman has defended the military investigation that cleared its soldiers of criminal wrongdoing in the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, saying the findings should not be attacked if they "are not suitable to one's political agenda". Foreign Minister Penny Wong called in Mr Newman to explain the outcomes of the two-year Israel Defense Forces (IDF) investigation after expressing outrage that no-one would be held criminally liable for the 2024 death of Ms Frankcom and six other humanitarian workers killed in a drone strike while travelling in a World Central Kitchen convoy through Gaza. Senator Wong was incensed after learning that the IDF would not seek criminal prosecution just minutes before the report's release, and hours after attending an event with Ms Frankcom's family at Parliament House for World Humanitarian Day, where the minister launched the Zomi Frankcom award for aid workers. "Zomi represented the best of Australia. Her courage deserves to be celebrated. Her family deserves justice," Senator Wong said in a statement ahead of her meeting with Mr Newman. "Australia is outraged the Israeli Government has decided not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues." The IDF conceded in its investigation that serious failures had led to soldiers mistakenly believing that a Hamas fighter was travelling with the convoy. But it said WCK did not flag with the IDF the presence of armed security travelling with the convoy, and the convoy deviated from an agreed route that had been coordinated with the military. The review concluded that the decisions of the commanders did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct. WCK says an independent review is needed, and that the IDF "cannot credibly investigate its own conduct". Ambassador defends investigation findings Departing from the meeting, Mr Newman defended the investigation. "Israel came out with findings after a thorough investigation, after a two-year investigation into the circumstances of the death of Zomi Frankcom. Since I took up my mission here about five months ago I was implored all the time to bring about closure, which I did," Mr Newman said. "But in the end, one must also understand that not every case where someone dies, where there is a casualty, that that means there is a criminal liability. "One cannot attack the findings of a court if the findings are not suitable to one's political agenda." Mr Newman said the aid group recruited armed personnel to its convoy and deviated from the route agreed with the IDF without informing the military, leading the soldiers to believe the convoy had been taken over. "It was a mistake in retrospect, but the findings of the court are there was no criminal intention … and therefore there was no criminal responsibility." Criminal findings were made in an investigation into a separate incident that was released alongside the Frankcom findings. The ambassador noted a 2024 Australian investigation by Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin came to a similar conclusion, though that did not have access to drone audio of the strike. The ambassador did not commit to releasing the full footage of the attack. Mr Newman also expressed "deep sorrow" for Ms Frankcom's family. "I would just like to tell them, straightforward, we grieve with you, we are very sorry for the circumstances that brought about this death. Any innocent life is a tragedy," Mr Newman said. Human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti, who sits on the UN's Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, said the ambassador should be expelled. "He has interfered in Australia's internal politics, he has been offensive in dealing with Australian members of the flotilla that tried to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid and, again, his government now has failed Australian citizens," Mr Sidoti told ABC Radio National. "So he should be told that he's going home." The Greens say the foreign minister should have expelled Mr Newman. Greens deputy Mehreen Faruqi said she was devastated by the investigation findings. "I am appalled by the comments made by the Israeli ambassador. How dare the Israeli ambassador stand outside our parliament and say every loss of innocent life is a tragedy," Senator Faruqi said. "Israel was never going to take responsibility and accountability for killing Zomi Frankcom. "When Minister Wong had her meeting this morning with the Israeli ambassador, the only thing she should have said to him was goodbye."