Three British nationals have been killed in an Israeli airstrike that hit an aid convoy in the Gaza Strip, the Foreign Office has confirmed.
The three Britons were among seven aid workers employed by charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) to spearhead efforts to alleviate looming hunger in Gaza.
Prime Minister David Cameron met with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz on Tuesday and asked for an urgent explanation on the incident. The Foreign Minister then wrote in a post on He said he emphasized that it would not be possible.
Foreign Affairs Minister Andrew Mitchell summoned the Israeli ambassador over the incident and called for a “prompt and transparent investigation, sharing with the international community and full accountability.”
A statement issued early Tuesday said the group of aid workers were traveling in two armored vehicles bearing the charity’s logo. According to WCK, those killed included people from Britain, Australia, Poland and Palestine, as well as dual citizens of the United States and Canada. The charity announced it would cease operations in the Palestinian territories.
Rishi Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to north-east England on Tuesday morning: “We are calling on Israel to urgently investigate what happened because there are obviously questions that need to be answered.” .
“My thoughts are the same. [the victims’] Friends and family,” the Prime Minister added. “They are doing a great job of alleviating the suffering that many people are experiencing in Gaza.”
Keir Starmer condemned the airstrike and called for a full investigation and an immediate ceasefire. “Reports of the deaths of British nationals, particularly from World Central Kitchen, in Israel’s attack on Gaza are horrifying,” the Labor leader said. “Our thoughts are with the families of all those killed.
“This war must stop now. Too many innocent people have died in this conflict and more than 1 million people are facing starvation.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was working to support the family. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his aid workers were killed in an “unintentional attack” by Israeli forces.
“It’s a war machine that is completely out of control in Gaza,” Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told the BBC’s World at One. He said more aid workers were killed there “than in any other conflict.”
Egeland said he recently visited Gaza and dined with WCK. “There is no higher mission than this,” he said. “I saw great work by very caring people helping civilians.”
Alicia Kearns, chair of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee, said: “Humanitarian agencies must be given the necessary assurances that their people will be protected.” A UK-based aid agency condemned the strike.
The UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians says this proves that “there is no safe place in Gaza, whether you are Palestinian, British or any other nationality.” He said it was a “terrible attack”.
He added: “Gaza is now one of the most dangerous places in the world for aid workers.”
