Israeli government ordered to apologise after Aussie aid worker Zomi Frankcom killed in Gaza

Israel has been ordered to issue an apology to the family of the aid worker as ‘all out’ war threatens to break out in the Middle East.

The family of an Australian aid worker who was killed in a military strike in Gaza deserve an apology from the Israeli Defense Forces, a report has found.

World Central Kitchen volunteer Zomi Frankcom was delivering food in the war torn region when the IDF attacked the vehicle she was travelling in.

A report from Australian Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin found that the IDF did not “knowingly or deliberately” attack the aid worker’s convoy.

But he found that the “armed locally-contracted security” with the aid workers were mistaken for Hamas fighters.

WCF worker Zomi Frankcom was killed by an Israeli air strike. Picture: AFP

This photo was sent by Zomi to her family before she crossed the checkpoint. Picture: Supplied

The report also found that the IDF failed to share the details of the movements of the World Central Kitchen aid workers.

Six of Ms Frankcom’s colleagues were also killed six in the incident on April 1.

“It is important to all the families that an appropriate apology be provided to them by the Government of Israel,” the report found.

Air Chief Marshal Binksin went to Israel to investigate the incident and made seven recommendations, including for the Australian Government to push Israel to improve co-ordination with charities for the delivery of aid in Gaza.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong backed the call for an apology on Friday.

“Ms Frankcom’s family, who I have spoken to, are firmly of the view that further action is necessary, including a criminal investigation, and they feel that the disciplinary action taken today is insufficient,” Ms Wong said.

Lebanese defence workers extinguish a fire following an Israeli air raid in Shamaa in southern Lebanon. Picture: AFP

But Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the report was “politically motivated”.

“I don’t believe that it was necessary to commission that report in the first place … I think it was a politically-based decision. I think the prime minister is playing politics here with this issue domestically,” he said.

“I think that is, frankly, a disgrace.”

The report comes as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, as Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon threaten to unleash widespread attacks on Israel.

Israel Defense Forces were on high alert on Friday, as the United States reiterated its support for Israel in a call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden.

Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is preparing for strikes. Picture: AFP

Israel was preparing for strikes on multiple fronts, with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah declaring a response was “inevitable” after Israeli forces killed senior terrorist Fuad Shukr in Beirut this week.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel was prepared for any aggression from Hezbollah, Iran or its proxies in Yemen.

“We will exact a very high price for any act of aggression against us from any front,” he said.

Israel has claimed responsibility for Shukr’s death.

But it has not addressed the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed deep inside Iranian territory this week.

Hezbollah fighters carry the casket of slain commander Fuad Shukr. Picture: AFP

Haniyeh was staying in a compound controlled by Iran’s fearsome and ruthless Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Sources with knowledge of the attack say the bomb, which also killed Haniyeh’s bodyguard, was planted inside his room at least two months ago and detonated by remote control at 2am local time on Wednesday.

An image of a cream coloured building, being shared on social media in Iran, shows damage to a room on the upper levels of the six-storey compound.

The bomb did not kill anyone in nearby rooms, suggesting that Israel had intelligence of the exact place where Haniyeh was sleeping.

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