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Anthony Albanese has told the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, that Australia expects transparency over the death of aid worker Zomi Frankcom, killed by an Israel Defense Forces strike in Gaza, and is pushing for “any appropriate criminal charges”.
Herzog, who was in Canberra on Wednesday, has said his country wants to work with Australia to “uproot this phenomenon” of antisemitism. His Canberra visit was met with protests outside Parliament House against the Palestinian civilian death toll in Gaza.
Herzog will meet the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, and hold another meeting with Albanese on Wednesday afternoon. At least one independent MP, Sophie Scamps, boycotted question time in protest over the president being invited to visit parliament, and just hours before his arrival the Australian government registered its alarm over Israel’s plans to expand settlements in the West Bank – which the department of foreign affairs said were “illegal”.
In question time, Albanese said he had spoken with Herzog on Wednesday morning about the death of Australian citizen Frankcom, who was killed along with six humanitarian worker colleagues after an Israeli drone strike on their World Central Kitchen convoy in April 2024.
“These deaths were a tragedy and an outrage. We said that at the time. 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,” Albanese said.
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He said every death of a humanitarian worker in Gaza was “an outrage”, including aid workers and journalists.
“We have spoken about humanitarian aid as well with the Israeli government and with the Israeli president. I must say the Israeli president has said he will engage and come back to the Australian government about the issues that we have raised,” Albanese said. In response to criticism over the government’s invitation to Herzog, Albanese added “if President Herzog wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have been able to raise the issue of Zomi Frankcom with him”.
Herzog’s visit, to meet the Australian Jewish community and mourn the victims of the Bondi antisemitic massacre, continued on Wednesday with a breakfast at Government House hosted by the governor general, Sam Mostyn. Heavy security, including snipers on the roof of the building, and a 21-gun salute by the federation guard met Herzog’s arrival.
Herzog said Australia and Israel “share the need to fight antisemitism with no doubts … so we uproot this phenomenon”. He added that he hoped “we can bring the relations between our nations on a renewed path”.
Protesters outside Government House could be heard yelling in the background. Outside Parliament House, several hundred people protested Herzog’s visit, criticising the Israeli government’s actions and military campaign in Gaza. Many carried large signs including “stop arming Israel”, “Jews against Herzog” and “justice for Palestine”. Another large banner at the front of the rally read “Herzog and IDF security not welcome”.
The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Gaza war had surpassed 70,000, Gaza’s health ministry said in November, after 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas terror attack of 7 October 2023. Israel’s military recently accepted that death toll was broadly accurate.
Addressing the rally in Canberra, the Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi claimed her home state of New South Wales was at risk of becoming a “violent police state” and criticised what she called “disgraceful” actions of police at a Sydney protest this week.
“How on earth can you justify assaulting Muslims doing their prayers, peacefully doing their prayers?” she said.
“I have spoken to so many Muslims since Monday, and we are scared. We are scared. We are fearful.”
The Greens senator was also strongly critical of the invitation for Herzog to visit Australia, calling it “shameful”.
A chant of “arrest Herzog” broke out during her speech.
Herzog is not scheduled to address parliament during his visit. But Scamps, the member for Mackellar, said she would skip question time on Wednesday “to illustrate that I do not condone this visit”.
“An invitation for the Head of State of Israel to visit our Parliament normalises the atrocities that have occurred in Gaza over the past two years,” she said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Australia joined global condemnation of Israel over measures to tighten its control of the West Bank, including extending Israeli control in areas that are now under Palestinian administration.
The US, European Union and Arab states have expressed alarm and concern over the plan. A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade added to that global backlash.
“Australia objects to the Israel Security Cabinet’s decision to expand Israel’s control over the West Bank. This decision will undermine stability and security,” they said in a statement.
“The Australian Government has been clear that settlements are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace. Altering the demographic composition of Palestine is unacceptable.
“A two-state solution remains the only viable path to long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
