Australia Calls for Criminal Charges Over Gaza Strike During Herzog’s Canberra Visit

Isaac Herzog met Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra today, where the Australian leader publicly pressed Israel to pursue possible criminal charges over a 2024 IDF airstrike in Gaza that killed seven humanitarian workers, including Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom.

Speaking during Question Time, Albanese said he had directly raised the issue with Herzog during their private discussions.

“These deaths were a tragedy and an outrage. We said that at the time,” Albanese told lawmakers. “We continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges.”

Frankcom was among seven aid workers killed on April 1, 2024, when Israeli drones struck a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza. Israel described the incident as a “grave mistake” caused by “mistaken identity” and apologized. Frankcom’s family has since called for an independent investigation, saying no one has faced accountability for the deaths.

Albanese defended hosting Herzog despite the controversy, saying the visit allowed him to raise Australia’s concerns directly. “If President Herzog wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have been able to raise the issue,” he said.

The visit unfolded alongside political backlash and protests. Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside Parliament House, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Arrest Herzog.” 

At the same time, the Australian government condemned Israel’s recent move to expand control in Judea and Samaria, calling settlements illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace. A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said altering the demographic composition of Palestinian territory was unacceptable and reiterated support for a two-state solution.

Despite the tensions, the two leaders also had strategic alignment on broader regional threats. Herzog expressed hope that talks later in the day between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in Washington would help counter what he described as Iran’s “empire of evil.” Both leaders emphasized the need to confront Tehran and combat rising antisemitism globally.

Herzog’s visit began in Sydney, where he met members of the Jewish community still grieving after the December 14 terror attack at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people during a Chanukah gathering. At a memorial service at Chabad of Bondi, Herzog spoke of the shock felt across the Jewish world.

“Jewish hearts around the world missed a beat,” he said. “We have come to look you in the eye and say: you are family. You are not alone.”

Chabad of Bondi Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, whose son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger was among those killed, thanked the president for reaching out immediately after the attack. “You reached out not as a distant head of state, but as family,” he said.

Albanese joined Herzog at the synagogue and read the names of the victims. The prime minister said the visit was also an opportunity to reaffirm Australia’s commitment to fighting antisemitism and supporting the Jewish community.

Herzog described the trip as “very emotional” and said he hoped it would help bring relations between the two nations into “a new beginning and a better future.”