Australians will gather at 10.30am on Tuesday morning outside the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to demand an independent investigation into the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, two years after she was killed by Israeli forces while delivering food to starving people in Gaza.
The rally was called following the IDF's decision last week to clear its own soldiers of criminal wrongdoing, closing its investigation without a criminal process. The decision came despite the commander who ordered the strike, Colonel Nochi Mendel, acknowledging in an October 2025 interview that he had been watching a live drone feed as the convoy moved and stating: "I'm not sorry for what I did."
Three World Central Kitchen vehicles, clearly marked, were hit in three separate strikes over four minutes. Survivors escaped the first vehicle and moved to the second at which point Israel struck them again and again. This occurred despite the convoy's movements having been coordinated in advance with the Israeli military. Seven aid workers were killed in the attack.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has stated she has "no confidence" in the IDF's findings. Prime Minister Albanese has called the outcome "an outrage" and yet the government's response has been to ask Israel to investigate itself again.
Speakers at this morning's rally include Gaza flotilla survivors who were themselves tortured and sexually assaulted in Israeli custody across multiple missions in 2025 and 2026, and who know firsthand what Israeli self-investigation produces. With multiple accounts and medical records corroborating their torture, Israel told the world they were treated with "great sensitivity”.
Following their meeting with Foreign Minister Wong, the Australian government committed to an independent investigation into their treatment. They are standing with Zomi Frankcom's family today to demand the same standard be applied to her killing.
Speakers include: Global Sumud Flotilla participant Australia and student organiser Ethan Floyd, Carol Angir of ActionAid, and Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who has called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and an end to Australia's complicity in Israeli impunity.
In September 2025 Australia launched the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel in Zomi's honour, now supported by 125 countries. That Declaration commits signatories not only to the protection of humanitarian workers but to justice and accountability when they are harmed. Zomi's death helped create that commitment and her case is now testing whether it means anything.
DEMANDS:
An independent Australian investigation into the killing of Zomi Frankcom
Expulsion of Israeli Ambassador Hillel Newman
Closure of the Israeli embassy in Canberra
Full implementation of Australia's obligations under the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel
WHAT: Rally for Justice for Zomi Frankcom WHERE: Israeli Embassy, Canberra WHEN: 10:30am, Tuesday 8 September 2026
VISUALS: Kites, now banned in Gaza, will be flown.
