By Ben Kerrigan-
British nationals have fallen victim to an “unintended” Israeli airstrike in Gaza, sparking calls for immediate action and accountability, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed.
John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby were British aid workers among the seven World Central Kitchen workers killed in Monday’s strike.
The team had been leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where it had unloaded food aid, according to the charity.
Netanyahu said of the tragic incident, that ” it happens in war” as he promised a thorough investigation into the deadly strike that claimed the lives of seven aid workers, including at least three Britons.
The airstrike, which targeted a convoy of foreign aid workers, also resulted in the deaths of individuals from Australia, Poland, and a US-Canada dual citizen.
Among the victims were dedicated humanitarian workers employed by the World Central Kitchen (WCK), a charity organization committed to providing essential aid to those in need.
Australian national Lalzawmi Frankcom, Polish national Damian Sobol and Palestinian Saif Abu Taha were among the others killed in the strike. The US-Canadian citizen has not been named.
The news of the deadly airstrike has prompted swift condemnation and demands for justice from leaders around the world.
UK officials have called for an immediate investigation into the incident, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressing shock and sadness over the deaths of the British aid workers.
The prime minister told Netanyanhu during a phone call that far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives in Gaza and the situation is increasingly intolerable.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron echoed these sentiments, labelling the deaths as “completely unacceptable” and urging Israel to provide a full explanation for the airstrike.
The tragedy has also reignited calls for an immediate ceasefire in the region, with opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer urging the international community to uphold international law and hold those responsible for the airstrike accountable.
Sir Keir emphasized the need for a full investigation into the incident, stressing the importance of preventing further loss of innocent lives in the ongoing conflict.
The deaths of the aid workers, who were in the process of delivering much-needed food aid to Gaza, have cast a spotlight on the perilous conditions faced by humanitarian workers in the region.
The World Central Kitchen, which had paused all operations in the wake of the airstrike, has been at the forefront of efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people amidst the ongoing crisis.