Diplomatic niceties crumble in Canberra as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces down Israeli President Isaac Herzog, demanding absolute accountability for the drone strike that killed Australian hero Zomi Frankcom.

The red carpet was rolled out, but the welcome was icy cold. As Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived at Parliament House in Canberra, he was met not just by the pomp of state, but by the roar of protesters outside and the steely resolve of a Prime Minister under pressure inside. Anthony Albanese used the high-profile visit to deliver a blunt message to Tel Aviv: Australia has not forgotten Zomi Frankcom, and it has not forgiven the lack of answers surrounding her death.

A Tragedy That Still Burns

Zomi Frankcom, a relentless humanitarian working with World Central Kitchen, was killed in Gaza in April 2024 by an Israeli airstrike that targeted her clearly marked aid convoy. Two years later, the scars are still raw. During their closed-door meeting, Albanese reportedly dispensed with diplomatic fluff, pressing Herzog on the need for "full accountability"—diplomatic code for criminal charges against the soldiers who pulled the trigger.

"This was not a fog of war incident; this was a tragedy and an outrage," Albanese later told Parliament, his voice thick with emotion. "I told President Herzog that Zomi’s family deserves the truth. We expect transparency, not cover-ups."

• The Protests: Outside the halls of power, the streets of Canberra were filled with demonstrators chanting Zomi’s name, a visceral reminder that the Australian public remains deeply angry about the conduct of the war in Gaza.
• The Herzog Defense: The Israeli President, on a diplomatic charm offensive, promised to "come back" to the Australian government with answers—a vague assurance that did little to quell the skepticism of the press corps.
• The Political tightrope: Albanese is walking a fine line, trying to maintain the strategic alliance with Israel while responding to a domestic constituency that sees the invitation of Herzog as an insult to Zomi’s memory.

Justice Delayed

The visit has ripped open old wounds. For the Frankcom family, the sight of the Israeli head of state shaking hands in Canberra is a bitter pill to swallow. They have demanded justice, not just apologies. Albanese’s confrontation was necessary, but words in a meeting room do not bring back the dead, nor do they prosecute the killers.

As Herzog’s motorcade sped away from Parliament, the question remained hanging in the heavy Canberra air: Will Australia’s pressure actually change anything in the Israeli military chain of command? Or was this just another performance in the theatre of international diplomacy? For Zomi’s sake, Australia hopes it is the former.