'Shameful': Australia, UK, Canada slam Israel over probe into aid killings

Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada have jointly condemned Israel's decision to close its investigation into the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza, labeling the move "shameful."

The World Central Kitchen employees, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, three Britons, a dual US-Canadian national, a Pole, and a Palestinian, were killed in a drone strike on their vehicle convoy in April 2024. They had just overseen the unloading of a food aid shipment.

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The announcement by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) on 19 August 2026 that it would not pursue criminal investigations into this strike, without further explanation, is shameful.

Israel's military had previously called the incident a "tragic mistake" and acknowledged a series of errors at various command levels. However, a preliminary investigation concluded on Wednesday that there was no "reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct."

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Announcing this decision on World Humanitarian Day, while the world honoured the courage and sacrifice of humanitarians, was particularly egregious.

The joint statement from the three nations expressed frustration, noting, "In the more than two years since, we have been pressing for Israel to swiftly and thoroughly consider the case and hold those responsible to account." They added that the IDF's August 19, 2026, announcement, made without further explanation, was "shameful." The timing, on World Humanitarian Day, was described as "particularly egregious."

World Central Kitchen also condemned the decision, calling it "inconsistent with the full truth and deeply offensive." The organization demanded an independent commission to investigate the airstrikes, stating the IDF cannot credibly investigate its own conduct. Australia had previously expressed outrage and summoned Israel's ambassador.

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inconsistent with the full truth and deeply offensive