Australia, the UK and Canada have condemned as “shameful” Israel’s decision to close an investigation into the death of seven aid workers killed in Gaza in 2024.<\/p>\n
The World Central Kitchen employees \u2014 Australian Zomi Frankcom, three Britons, a dual US-Canadian national, a Pole and a Palestinian \u2014 died in a drone strike on their vehicle convoy after overseeing the unloading of a food aid shipment.<\/p>\n
Israel’s military called the incident a “tragic mistake”.<\/p>\n
Zomi Frankcom’s family disappointed by IDF decision<\/a><\/p>\n Zomi Frankcom’s brother says the decision to announce the outcome of the IDF investigation on World Humanitarian Day was an insult.<\/p>\n “In the more than two years since, we have been pressing for Israel to swiftly and thoroughly consider the case and hold those responsible to account,” the three nations said in a joint statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The announcement by the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] on 19 August 2026 that it would not pursue criminal investigations into this strike, without further explanation, is shameful,” it said.<\/p>\n The incident in April 2024 sparked global outrage and renewed calls to ensure the safety of aid workers in Gaza.<\/p>\n “Announcing this decision on World Humanitarian Day, while the world honoured the courage and sacrifice of humanitarians, was particularly egregious,” the joint statement added.<\/p>\n The Israeli military acknowledged a series of errors at various levels of command, but a preliminary investigation concluded on Wednesday that there was no “reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct”.<\/p>\n “Israel extends its condolences to the families of the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers \u2026 who tragically lost their lives under deeply regrettable circumstances,” Israel’s foreign ministry posted on X on Friday.<\/p>\n ‘Deeply offensive’\u00a0<\/p>\n Israel’s foreign ministry said the decision not to launch a criminal probe “was made by Israel’s independent military prosecution authorities on the basis of strict professional and legal considerations”.<\/p>\n “We remain committed to the safety of humanitarian personnel, compliance with international humanitarian law and preventing such tragedies from recurring,” it added.<\/p>\n Israel open to compensating Zomi Frankcom’s family, ambassador says<\/a><\/p>\n Hillel Newman says the issue of paying reparations to the family of the aid worker will be investigated in Israel if a specific request is lodged.<\/p>\n The US-based World Central Kitchen condemned the decision not to launch a criminal investigation, calling it “inconsistent with the full truth and deeply offensive”.<\/p>\n It demanded an independent commission to investigate the air strikes “because the IDF cannot credibly investigate its own conduct”.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Australia expressed outrage at the closure of the investigation and summoned Israel’s ambassador to the country.<\/p>\n Ambassador Hillel Newman, who has defiantly defended the IDF probe, declined to apologise to Ms Frankcom’s family<\/a> but expressed sorrow for the family and suggested reparations could be available.\u00a0<\/p>\n