Albanese pushes Israeli president on aid worker’s death
The prime minister has raised the death in Gaza of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom with the visiting Israeli president during talks in Canberra.
President Isaac Herzog meets with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, February 10. Pic: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Anthony Albanese has pressed Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the death of an Australian aid worker in Gaza during the head of state’s visit to Canberra.
The prime minister confirmed he raised the issue of Zomi Frankcom, who was killed by an Israeli drone strike while working for World Central Kitchen in April 2024.
The Israeli president is in Canberra for the third day of his four-day visit to Australia, and met with Mr Albanese and the governor-general at Government House.
The deaths of Ms Frankcom and her six World Central Kitchen colleagues were “a tragedy and an outrage”, Mr Albanese told parliament on Wednesday.
“We have made it clear that remains the Australian government’s position and we’ve also made clear our expectation that there be transparency about Israel’s ongoing investigation into the incident.
“We continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges.”
Mr Albanese said he also raised a “range of other government concerns” with the Israeli leader.
“The Israeli president has said that he will engage and come back to the Australian government about the issues that we have raised,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Herzog was welcomed with a 21-gun salute at Government House and was met by senior politicians including Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Jewish MP Mark Dreyfus, as well as Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal and Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
Security was bolstered at Government House, with snipers seen on the roof of the governor-general’s residence.
Arrivals were closely monitored and only pre-approved people were allowed in ahead of Mr Herzog’s arrival.
Protesters stationed at the Government House lookout could be heard yelling in the background.
Ms Mostyn said she was delighted to welcome the Herzogs and presented them with a photo of Mr Herzog’s father, Chaim Herzog, during his trip to Australia in 1986, when he stayed at Government House.
“This is a great moment in relations between our nations,” he said.
“I know how much you spend time in consoling and supporting the Jewish community.”
Mr Herzog said both Australia and Israel “share the need to fight anti-Semitism with no doubts … so we uproot this phenomenon”.
The Israeli president will attend multiple events in Canberra, including formal meetings with Mr Albanese and Ms Ley.
He also planted a tree at the Israeli embassy in Canberra.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the lawns of Parliament House, demonstrating against Mr Herzog’s visit, prompting an increased police presence.
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the invitation to Mr Herzog was reasonable following the Bondi attack.
“He is the head of state of a country which, while we have differences, we have very friendly relations over a long period of time,” he told ABC Radio.
“This is a time to dial the temperature down, dial the heat down, rather than allowing this visit to become an occasion for increasing the division and tension that we’ve seen too much of.”
