Penny Wong lays flowers for Zomi Frankcom, after aid worker killed in Gaza

Penny Wong has led tributes for the aid worker killed in Gaza, as Australia lays down the law with Israel.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has led floral tributes for the Australian aid worker killed in an airstrike on Gaza.

Seven people delivering aid supplies were killed by Israeli-led air strikes in central Gaza, including 43-year-old Melbourne aid worker Zomi Frankcom.

Senator Wong joined representatives from Australian NGOs to lay flowers at the monument to commemorate the sacrifices of Australia’s humanitarian workers.

In a note attached to the flowers, she wrote: “For Zomi. Your commitment to humanity will not be forgotten. Vale”.

Senator Penny Wong joined representatives from Australian NGOs to lay flowers for Zomi Frankcom, at the monument to commemorate the sacrifices of Australia’s humanitarian workers. Picture: X

The note she left on the floral tribute. Picture: X

Earlier, she had warned that unless Israel changed its course in its conflict with Hamas it risked losing international support, having told her Israeli counterpart that the deaths of the aid workers were “outrageous and unacceptable.”

“I am outraged by what occurred overnight, and those were the actions of the Netanyahu government and the IDF,” she said on Wednesday morning.

“Let us be clear about where responsibility lies for this, and let us not confuse issues. I have been very clear from the start. Israel should observe international humanitarian law.

“That means the protection of civilians, and that means the protection of aid workers, and that means the provision of aid into Gaza”

Israel’s military chief on Wednesday said the deadly airstrike was the result of a “misidentification” in complex conditions, calling it a “grave mistake”.

Australian aid worker Lalzawmi Frankcom is among five employees from the World Central Kitchen killed in Gaza. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed he had offered his private mobile number Ms Frankcom’s brother.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Albanese said he spoke with Ms Frankcom’s brother on Tuesday and had offered to make himself available for whatever they needed.

“When I spoke with Zomi’s brother yesterday, I gave him my personal, private mobile. I indicated to him that I would be available at any time to provide whatever assistance my office or the Australian government could provide to him and his family,” he said.

“This is an enormous personal tragedy for them, but this is also a significant loss for our nation.”

Mr Albanese said he had set out Australia’s outrage over the deaths in “very clear terms” during an overnight phone call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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

“This is someone who was volunteering overseas to provide aid through this charity. This is completely unacceptable.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has committed to full transparency about how this tragedy could possibly have occurred.”

Questioned over Mr Netanyahu’s claim that the deaths were “unintentional” Mr Albanese said Mr Netanyahu did “accept responsibility” on behalf of the IDF.

“There is a need for a thorough investigation into what happened here and Prime Minister Netanyahu committed to that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the loss of innocent lives in the conflict was the ongoing “direct result” of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.

“Our prayers and condolences obviously go out to Zomi’s family and to her friends and to those who are serving at the moment in harm’s way, trying to provide support to people who are in a very difficult situation,” he said.

“Hamas continues to hold hostages, and they should be released immediately so that a ceasefire can be entered into.

“The attacks on October 7 should never be forgotten.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared his mobile number with Ms Frankcom’s family. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Zionist Federation of Australia echoed Mr Dutton’s statement, saying Ms Frankcom’s death was a result of a “dual tragedy”.

“This was the result of a terrible mistake. Like Australia, Israel does not target civilians,” president Jeremy Leibler said.

“he dual tragedy here is that like the innocent Israelis murdered by Hamas on 7 October and the innocent Palestinians since, Ms Frankcom’s death isultimately theresponsibility of Hamas.”

Penny Wong said Israel needed to change its course. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

More than 33,800 people have been killed since the war began on October 7, with more than 32,600 Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank and 1200 deaths in Israel.

In a video statement on Tuesday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that an IDF air strike was responsible for the deaths of Ms Frankcom and six of her colleagues.

Mr Netanyahu said that Israel “deeply regrets the tragic incident”, claiming that it was “unintentional.”

Senator Wong said she expected Mr Netanyahu to “make himself available for a call” and argued that international humanitarian law still applied.

“What I’ve said to my counterparts directly, and what I have said previously publicly … that unless Israel, Mr Netanyahu, changes his course of action, Israel will continue to lose support. We say to Mr Netanyahu, you must change course,” she said.