Zomi Frankcom – Australian aid worker – is killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza
An Australian humanitarian worker has been killed in an airstrike in Gaza.
Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom, 44, from Melbourne, was killed along with three other international aid workers and a Palestinian driver, in Central Gaza, while working with the World Central Kitchen charity on Monday.
It is understood the group had been travelling in convoy south of the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah when they were hit.
Distressing footage posted to social media showed the bodies of the five victims at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
Hospital staff held up bloodied and torn passports belonging to three of the dead – one British, Polish and Australian.
Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom (pictured), 44, from Melbourne , was killed along with three other international aid workers and a Palestinian driver, in Central Gaza, while working with the World Central Kitchen charity on Monday
Hospital staff held up bloodied and torn passports belonging to three of the dead – one British, Polish and Australian (pictured)
The nationality of the fourth aid worker is currently unclear.
Ms Frankom had been working for the World Central Kitchen charity and had dedicated much of her life to helping others both overseas and in Australia.
In 2019, she helped provide aid to communities affected by the 2019 bushfires in Braidwood, NSW, reported 9News.
World Central Kitchen said ‘several’ staff members had been killed.
‘We are aware of reports that members of the World Central Kitchen team have been killed in an IDF attack while working to support our humanitarian food delivery efforts in Gaza,’ the charity posted on X.
‘This is a tragedy. Humanitarian aid workers and civilians should NEVER be a target. EVER.’
Several of the victims were wearing protective equipment and the charity’s logo was visible on their clothing.
Ms Frankom (pictured) had been working for the World Central Kitchen charity
Daily Mail Australia has approached the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for comment.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier said DFAT was ‘urgently’ investigating reports an Australian had been killed.
‘I’m very concerned about the loss of life that is occurring in Gaza. My government has supported a sustainable ceasefire,’ he told ABC Radio.
‘We’ve called for the release of hostages and there have been far too many innocent lives, Palestinian and Israeli, lost during the Gaza-Hamas conflict.’
A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said it had launched ‘an in-depth investigation into the incident by the highest ranks of the army’.
More to come.
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