Australia says Israeli info on death of aid worker 'not sufficient'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Apr 2024 05:11

The Australian Foreign Minister says Australia has not yet received from "Israel" sufficient information about the killing of an aid worker in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks as participants gather to listen to discussions regarding elements of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), hosted by delegations from Japan, Philippines, and Australia in New York, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Saturday that information from "Israel" about the death of an Australian aid worker during an Israeli air strike on Gaza was "not sufficient".

After being briefed by Israeli authorities, Australia had "made clear that we have not yet received sufficient information to satisfy our expectations," Wong told reporters after Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom was killed. The Australian was among seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.

"We expect full accountability for her death and for the World Central Kitchen colleagues who also perished with her," Wong said.

"We believe these deaths are utterly inexcusable and clear practical action is needed to ensure these tragedies are never repeated."

On Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese demanded "full accountability" for the killing of Frankcom, during a telephone call with Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Albanese said the attack on WCK would only add to international concerns over "the extraordinary loss of life" in the Gaza Strip.

He said that he "conveyed to Prime Minister Netanyahu in very clear terms that Australians were outraged by this death, by this tragedy, of this fine Australian."

"I expressed Australia’s anger and concern at the death of Zomi Frankcom," Albanese said.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu issued a public comment, stating that such incidents happened in times of war. According to Albanese, the Israeli premier "did accept responsibility" for the events.

"We need to have accountability for how it has occurred, and what is not good enough is the statements that have been made, including that this is just a product of war," the Australian Prime Minister stressed.

"This is against humanitarian law – international humanitarian law makes it very clear that aid workers should be able to provide that aid and that assistance free of the threat of losing their life," he added.