Regarding the airstrike that claimed the lives of seven relief workers, including an Australian, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he has not yet spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, a Melbourne native, was one of the seven employees of World Central Kitchen that perished in yesterday’s bombing on central Gaza.
As he pressed for an explanation “for this tragedy,” Albanese stated on Tuesday night that the Australian government had “spoken with the Israeli government,” but he was still waiting to speak with Netanyahu directly.
“To have aid workers, not just from Australia but other nations as well, going about the business of assisting, in the most humanitarian way, their fellow global citizens – in this case the people of Gaza, who are suffering from incredible deprivation – to have them killed in this way is completely unacceptable,” Albanese said on 7.30 tonight on the ABC. “The targeting of these people is just a tragedy.”
Late tonight, Netanyahu admitted that “innocent people in the Gaza Strip” had been the target of the “unintended strike” by Israeli forces. Inquiring into the strike, he declared that authorities will “do everything for this not to happen again.”
In addition to Frankcom, the dead also included three British citizens, a Polish national, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, and a Palestinian. The strike was deemed “completely unacceptable” by Albanese. “We’re waiting on all the information and a thorough explanation.
However, as the Australian government, we demand responsibility for what happened to this person.” Senator Penny Wong, the foreign minister, sharply denounced the strike in a statement. “The government has made representations to the Netanyahu government and seeks a thorough and expeditious review,” she stated. “We expect full accountability for these deaths.”We reiterate our calls for the release of all hostages, the enforcement of international humanitarian law, and an urgent humanitarian ceasefire that leads to a long-term ceasefire.” Wong offered her “deepest sympathies” to Frankcom’s family and praised her for “a life dedicated to the service of others, including her fellow Australians during natural disasters”. “Her tireless work to improve the lives of others should never have cost Ms Frankcom her own,” Wong stated. Albanese reported that he had talked to Frankcom’s sibling. He told 7.30, “They are obviously devastated by this news.”
“This is just an extraordinary tragedy, it’s one that they certainly weren’t expecting.”Zomi was aware of the hazards, but you don’t anticipate that when you’re out there helping people and doing such amazing work.” The prime minister restated the demands of the government for “a sustainable ceasefire and humanitarian ceasefire” in the area.
Albanese declared, “We have called for ceasefires.” “We have made remarks advocating for that course of action and have voted in the UN in that manner.
However, it ought to be enduring. You don’t want a truce to be followed by a quick restart of hostilities.”It is also necessary to free the hostages. Additionally, we require a route to long-term peace in the area.”
