Israel won’t open criminal probe into Australian aid worker’s death; Canberra expresses anger

Israel has decided not to launch a criminal investigation into the killings of Australian aid worker Zomi Frank Koum and her colleagues in Gaza, prompting sharp condemnation from Australia. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the decision was “particularly insulting” and announced that Australia will summon Israel’s ambassador, while its envoy in Tel Aviv has been instructed to press Canberra’s concerns directly with the Israeli government.
Koum, a 43-year-old former Melbourne resident, was killed on 1 April 2024 while part of a World Central Kitchen convoy delivering food in central Gaza when the convoy was struck by an Israeli drone strike. The incident sparked international outrage and calls for an independent inquiry. Israel initially described the strike as a “serious mistake” and dismissed two officers, but a military prosecutor recently closed the case, saying there was no evidence of criminal negligence.
Wong said Australia will not accept the outcome, arguing that an internal military review is not an adequate substitute for an impartial criminal investigation. She noted the timing of the announcement was particularly hurtful as it arrived on the evening of World Humanitarian Day, when people were honouring aid workers. Canberra reiterated its commitment to full transparency and justice for Koum and her family.
The decision has strained bilateral ties. Opposition figures in Australia backed Wong’s stance, calling the closure a moral failing. World Central Kitchen urged Israel to release all internal documents related to the strike and warned that exemptions like this endanger aid workers operating in conflict zones.