Family and friends of an Australian woman killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza have said the 43-year-old should be remembered as a selfless person.
Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom was working for not-for-profit World Central Kitchen (WCK) when she and six other foreign nationals were killed in a vehicle hit in an airstrike.
WCK said despite the group travelling in a “de-conflicted zone” and having coordinated movements with the Israeli Defence Force, the branded car was struck as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse in central Gaza.
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Chief executive officer Erin Gore labelled the attack “unforgivable” and “targeted”.
She said the workers had just unloaded 100 tons of humanitarian aid that arrived in Gaza via a maritime route.
“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organisations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war,” Gore said.
The Australian government has called for accountability over the deaths. The Israeli Defence Force is conducting a review of the attack.
Frankcom’s family released a statement saying they are “deeply mourning her loss” and “reeling” from the shocking news.
“She was a kind, selfless and outstanding human being that has travelled the world helping others in their time of need,” they said.
“She will leave behind a legacy of compassion, bravery and love for all those in her orbit.”
Friend of Frankcom, Josh Phelps, said he met her in 2018 while both volunteering with WCK in Guatemala following a volcanic eruption that killed 200 people.
“(She) really had a zest for life and I think she really found her calling (in aid work),” Phelps said.
“She made friends wherever she went. She had a knack for really connecting with the community, and that was anywhere.
“She really knew how to make people feel special … she knew how to bring levity to a situation when it’s hard to do that and that’s really special in life and that sort of (aid) work,” he said.
Phelps, who now lives in Mexico City, said in 2019, when Frankcom was told a former colleague was terminally ill, she organised the woman a party that she always wanted.
“She really cared a lot about the people she worked with and the people she served. She wanted a life of adventure, and she made that for herself,” Phelps said.
“Even when she wasn’t working with World Central Kitchen, she was serving (the community) in some kind of way.”
Phelps said he spoke to Frankcom the day before she was killed, and was in communication with her during her work in Gaza.
He said Frankcom did not talk about her situation, most likely because she wanted to escape the realities of the war.
“It wasn’t something she wanted to dwell on … she mentioned the sounds of war, but she wasn’t one to complain about that stuff,” he said.
“(I think) she wanted to talk about some normal things in these abnormal times.”
“The way I would remember her is as someone who had a real passion for her family, for her friends, for those that she served in her life’s work … I want people to remember all the special things she did for others.”
Israel accused of ‘disregarding’ international law
Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 32,800 Palestinians — about 70 per cent of them women and children.
The United Nations and its partners have warned millions of people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, and about 20 have died so far because Israel continues to restrict access to aid.
The International Court of Justice, which is investigating allegations Israel is committing genocide, has ordered basic services and aid be allowed into The Strip.
WCK confirmed the other workers killed were from Poland, the United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, and Palestine.
It said it would immediately pause operations in the region.
“I am heartbroken and appalled that we—World Central Kitchen and the world— lost beautiful lives today because of a targeted attack by the IDF,” Gore said.
“The love they had for feeding people, the determination they embodied to show that humanity rises above all, and the impact they made in countless lives will forever be remembered and cherished,” she said.
Israel’s top diplomat in Australia has been requested for a call-in by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the deaths.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the department was “urgently” investigating the attack.
“We want full accountability for this, this is a tragedy that should never have occurred,” he said on Tuesday.
The peak body for the aid and humanitarian agencies, The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), said the Israeli government was “flagrantly disregarding” the international rule of law since the war began in October 2023.
“Time and time again during this conflict, we have seen Israeli forces demonstrate disregard for the safety of humanitarian workers with tragic results, with at least 196 aid workers killed to date,” the ACFID said.
“Not only are Israeli military forces acting recklessly, they have, in fact, been using the denial of food as a weapon of war.
“We call on the Australian Government to urge the Israeli Government to cease attacks on aid convoys and to allow for the safe land passage of humanitarian assistance.
“Further, Australia should protest in the strongest possible terms the starvation of civilians. Starving civilians is a breach of the laws of war, international law and common decency.”