Greens accuse Australian government of weak response after IDF officer's remarks on Frankcom killing
A former Israeli military officer who ordered the 2024 strike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom says he would do the same again, prompting the Greens to accuse the Albanese government of failing to act. Foreign Minister Penny Wong called the remarks disgraceful, but critics say condemnation without sanctions is insufficient.
Former Israel Defense Forces reserve colonel Nochi Mendel has said he does not regret ordering the April 2024 strike on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) humanitarian convoy in Gaza, which killed seven aid workers including Australian Zomi Frankcom. Mendel claimed the victims were "not innocent" and said he would issue the same order again if faced with the same situation.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the comments as "utterly disgraceful," while WCK's humanitarian chief called them an "outrageous smear." However, Greens defence spokesperson David Shoebridge argued the government's response falls short, saying Mendel's statements reflect a broader Israeli government policy of collective punishment against aid workers and civilians.
Shoebridge called for concrete consequences for members of Benjamin Netanyahu's government and demanded an immediate halt to the sale of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel. He said ministerial outrage means little without accompanying action.
Details of the attack
The convoy, which was delivering hundreds of tonnes of food to Gaza, was struck three times by drones along the coastal road within a short span, as survivors of earlier strikes fled to vehicles that had not yet been hit. An IDF investigation labelled the strike a grave error and removed Mendel from his post, while also blaming the victims for hiring armed guards and allegedly deviating from their agreed route. Last month, Israel's military advocate general decided not to press charges against anyone involved, citing insufficient suspicion of criminal conduct.
Mendel maintained he was following military protocol and asserted the aid workers were linked to Hamas, without providing evidence. Both an IDF investigation and a former Australian defence chief found no such connection between WCK and Hamas. WCK founder José Andrés rejected Mendel's claims and called for an independent investigation with full release of video and audio evidence. Frankcom's family has also expressed disappointment over the decision not to bring criminal charges.
