Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, has stated that Israel is open to compensating the family of Zomi Frankcom, an Australian aid worker killed in a Gaza strike in April 2024. The statement comes after a report cleared IDF soldiers of criminal liability for their involvement in her death. According to Mr. Newman, reparations would be investigated according to Israeli rules if the family submits a specific request. This development follows criticism from the Australian government, which has demanded an apology and further investigation into the incident.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Zomi Frankcom, a 32-year-old Australian aid worker, was killed in an Israeli drone strike on April 10, 2024, along with six other colleagues from World Central Kitchen while working in Gaza. The Israeli military (IDF) initially admitted to serious failures and mistakes that led to the attack, but has now decided not to pursue criminal charges against its personnel involved in the incident. The decision was made on World Humanitarian Day, sparking outrage from Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who called it an "insult" to Frankcom's memory. The Australian government is continuing to call for an independent judicial assessment of the incident, while the family of Zomi Frankcom has expressed deep disappointment and continues to demand justice. Other countries, including Canada and Poland, have also condemned Israel's decision not to pursue criminal charges, with Canada calling it "unacceptable" and Poland expressing its expectation that Israel will provide necessary explanations and materials. Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to Australia has suggested that the country is open to paying reparations to Frankcom's family.
Written for “Aid Worker Killed in Gaza Strike” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
Israel's ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman has revealed that the country is open to paying reparations to Zomi Frankcom's family.
asserted
country → reveal → family
His remarks follow the release of a report that cleared the soldiers involved in the aid worker's death.
asserted
that → follow → death
The matter of reparations will be reviewed in Israel, Mr Hillel says.
asserted
Hillel → review → Israel
Israel's ambassador to Australia has suggested reparations could be available for the family of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.
uncertain
reparations → suggest → Frankcom
This week the Israel Defense Forces cleared soldiers of criminal liability for their involvement in the April 2024 strike in Gaza that killed Ms Frankcom and six of her World Central Kitchen colleagues.
asserted
that → clear → colleagues
The move has outraged the Australian government, which slammed the findings and demanded an apology for Ms Frankcom's family.
asserted
which → outrage → family
Ambassador Hillel Newman, who has defiantly defended the IDF probe, was hauled into a meeting with Foreign Minister Penny Wong at Parliament House on Thursday.
asserted
who → defend → Thursday
On Friday Mr Newman again declined to apologise but expressed sorrow for the family and left the door open to reparations.
asserted
Newman → decline → reparations
"Reparations is an issue that we can check and will be checked by Israel.
asserted
we → check → Israel
It's not my decision here in Australia," Mr Newman told Radio National.
asserted
Newman → tell → National
"We need a specific request and then it's investigated according to the rules of reparations in such cases.
uncertain
it → need → cases
"The issue of sorrow and grief of the family has been expressed personally and generally, very categorically."
asserted
issue → express → family
On Thursday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said further investigation of the killings was "one of the options" that should be considered, but would not reveal the Australian government's next moves.
asserted
that → say → moves
"We will press the Israeli government," he told the ABC's 7.30.
asserted
he → press → 7.30
"The direction, we have said today, we'll discuss with Ms Frankcom's family.
asserted
we → say → family
"They deserve to be consulted on these issues, and we'll do that and then we'll make an announcement in coming days."
asserted
we → deserve → days
Mr Newman said Israel was open to possible legal avenues for further investigation.
asserted
Israel → say → investigation
In 2024 Senator Wong appointed Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin to investigate Israel's response to the strikes.
asserted
Wong → appoint → strikes
His report found that the killings were a result of serious failures to follow IDF procedures and errors in decision-making.
asserted
killings → find → making
The report also called for reparations and an apology from the Israeli government.
asserted
report → call → government
Israel did not grant Air Chief Marshal Binskin access to the audio from the drone attack in question.
asserted
Israel → grant → question
On Thursday Mr Albanese said there needed to be a "far more transparent and clear explanation" from the Israeli government about what had occurred and called for the audio to be released.
"That's consistent with transparency, which is something we have called for from day one," he said.
asserted
he → say → day
Mr Newman said he was not privy to intelligence regarding the recording and would not commit to its release.
"I don't think that Australia shares all its intelligence aspects with other nations, even if they're friendly and they're like-minded," he said.
asserted
he → say → nations
"That is a question which is up to security agencies."
Mr Newman also said Israel was considering inviting Air Chief Marshal Binskin back to the country for further talks.
The Frankcom family has expressed deep disappointment over the decision to clear the soldiers involved in the strike.
asserted
family → say → strike
They also said it was an insult to Ms Frankcom's memory for the findings to be announced on World Humanitarian Day.
asserted
findings → say → Day
The prime minister also expressed frustration with the timing of the report's release.
asserted
minister → express → release
"It's certainly not good enough that, on World Humanitarian Day, of all days, they release this so-called report that essentially says, 'Yes, we're responsible, but nothing to see here,'" Mr Albanese said.
asserted
Albanese → release → report
Mr Newman said he and the Israeli government had been under pressure to release the findings.
asserted
he → say → findings
"It could be that the timing was not good," he said.
uncertain
he → say → ?
The IDF investigation found that there were "serious failures" in the strike, but they did not raise "reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct".
asserted
they → find → misconduct
The findings released by Israel on Wednesday also looked into four other high-profile civilian deaths in Gaza.
asserted
findings → release → Gaza
Israel has opened criminal investigations into two of the cases, including the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza in January 2025.
asserted
Israel → open → January
