Murder of Zomi Frankcom leaves Albanese’s ‘social cohesion’ flailing

These things happen in war.

— Benjamin Netanyahu

The slaughter of Zomi Frankcom and six other staff of World Central Kitchen (WCK) bears all the characteristics of deliberate targeting by the Israeli Defence Force. According to detail provided to Haaretz, the aid convoy was hit not once but three times (over a distance of more than two kilometres) on a route and at a time of which WCK had alerted the IDF. Survivors of the first strike communicated that they had been hit and fled to a second vehicle, which was then destroyed, with wounded then moved to a third vehicle, which was then in turn destroyed.

Any pretence that this was some sort of fog-of-war accident is thus untenable, especially given WCK had replaced UNRWA — the United Nations Relief and Works Agency that Australia withdrew and only recently reinstated funding of — as the primary provider of food relief in Gaza. WCK has now, understandably, suspended its Gaza operations. Given that multiple independent organisations have accused Israel of using starvation as a tool of war, the rationale for such targeting of aid workers is clear.

The murder leaves Anthony Albanese’s carefully calculated attempt to remain in Israel’s camp while expressing concern about the deaths of Palestinian civilians — now at nearly 33,000 — in tatters. Labor seems to have settled on “unacceptable” as its words of choice about what it describes as the “targeting” of aid workers; Albanese used it repeatedly on ABC’s 7.30 last night and again this morning, and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong also used it. The prime minister said this morning he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his “anger and concern” and that “Australians were outraged”. But he is unwilling to take any concrete steps in response to the murder of an Australian engaged in the crucial work of delivering food to innocent civilians.

Part of Albanese’s justification for refusing to take a stronger stand in relation to the actions of the IDF in Gaza seems to be “social cohesion”. When asked last night about the fact that his language clearly had no impact on what Israel was doing on the ground in Gaza, the prime minister replied:

One of the things that I have been concerned about is social cohesion here in Australia. And that requires an acknowledgement that for the Jewish community this has been a very difficult time. But it’s also a difficult time for the Arabic and Islamic communities as well. These are communities that feel traumatised by what has occurred on October 7, and then what has occurred in Gaza. And the responsibility that politicians have is to try and bring people together, not to try to score political points.

He repeated that view this morning again. This seems to place an awkward restraint on Australia’s foreign policy when it comes to Israel — Australia, Albanese seems to be saying, will mute its criticisms of Israeli actions in Gaza out of concern that domestic community groups will be upset and traumatised.

In practice, this concern for social cohesion seems to only apply to one group. Pro-Palestine activists have been criticised by the federal government; it is a pro-Palestine media figure who has been sacked by the ABC, it is pro-Palestine protesters who have been smeared by the NSW Labor government, which has given police greater powers, and promised to toughen hate speech laws, in response to their protests. Islamic communities get some pro forma acknowledgement, but “social cohesion” clearly has its limits.

In the insular way of Australians and the Australian media, the deaths of more than 30,000 Palestinian civilians might barely register. But the murder of Zomi Frankcom brings home the horrors routinely inflicted by Israel on Gazans — the constant threat of random, indiscriminate death; the reckless indifference to civilian casualties and the provision of the necessities of life; and the dismissive attitude of the Netanyahu government to monstrous crimes — “these things happen”. Albanese may find himself well behind the political curve in his ongoing attempts to stay onside with such a government.

What should Australia’s response be to the death of Zomi Frankcom? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.