MEDIA RELEASE
20 August 2026
The Israeli Government’s decision not to pursue criminal charges over the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom is a grave injustice and strengthens the case for Australia to impose country-level sanctions and expel its ambassador in response.
While the Israel Defense Forces have finally acknowledged for the first time, that its own forces opened fire on the vehicle carrying Hind Rajab, and recommended a limited criminal investigation into soldiers who killed her and fifteen Palestinian paramedics in Tel al-Sultan, this goes nowhere near enough and is an insult to the memories of those killed in this genocidal war.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong must take action in response to this and impose sanctions on the Israeli Government. We urge her not to call in Israel’s ambassador and instead, to expel him from Australia immediately.
“Israel investigated itself over the killing of an Australian citizen and concluded nobody is criminally responsible. This absolute impunity is an insult to the memory of incredible aid workers like Zomi Frankcom,” said Sarah Schwartz, Executive Director of the Jewish Council of Australia.
“Israel has also confirmed they shot at a five-year-old girl and buried paramedics in a mass grave. These kinds of war crimes are only able to occur in an environment where Israel is not held responsible for the actions of its military.”
“Penny Wong says this decision falls short of the accountability we expect. She’s right. So why is the response to a complete failure of accountability just a stern word to the ambassador?
“An Australian citizen is dead, the IDF admits its own soldiers made serious failures that killed her, and not one person is being held criminally responsible. They maybe be criminally investigating the murder of Hind and paramedics, but with this culture of complete impunity, we don’t believe any justice will come of this.
“The Foreign Minister says the Government is considering next steps. We urge her to go beyond individual sanctions on a handful of settlers and to instead, impose real consequences.
“Zomi’s family, and every family still waiting on Israel to investigate itself, deserve better than a phone call.”
Zomi Frankcom, an Australian aid worker with World Central Kitchen, was killed in an April 2024 Israeli strike alongside six international colleagues. Hind Rajab was a five year old girl, fired upon, alongside six family members in her vehicle beside her. She, the paramedics who were also killed rushing to her aid and the countless other civilians murdered by Israel deserve justice, the Australian Government must demand justice.
The Jewish Council of Australia renews its call for the Australian Government to expel Ambassador Newman and impose country-level sanctions on the Israeli state institutions enabling ongoing impunity.
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