Israel’s top military commander has apologised for the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese angrily confronted Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu over the death and legal experts warned those involved may have committed a war crime.

With Ms Frankcom’s death marking the lowest point so far in an increasingly strained relationship between Canberra and Jerusalem, Mr Albanese said Mr Netanyahu accepted responsibility during a tense early morning phone call on Wednesday.