FIRST Minister Humza Yousaf has called for immediate action from the UK Government after three British aid workers in Gaza were killed by the Israeli military.
The three British nationals were among those killed in an airstrike on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity convoy in Gaza on Monday.
An Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen, and a Palestinian were also killed.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he had spoken to his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, to stress the need for “major changes” to ensure the safety of aid workers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the aid workers were killed by an “unintended strike” by Israeli forces.
However, an investigation from media outlet Al Jazeera’s Sanad verification agency concluded that Israeli forces intentionally targeted the WCK aid convoy in three consecutive air attacks.
An investigation by Al Jazeera’s Sanad verification agency concludes that Israeli forces intentionally targeted the World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid convoy in three consecutive air attacks in central Gaza.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 2, 2024
Read here: https://t.co/3xaSg5ePWN pic.twitter.com/LWUdMgkXu4
The convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian food aid taken to Gaza on the maritime route, WCK said, as it immediately suspended operations in the region.
Sharing a statement from WCK and an image of one of the charity’s vehicles hit by weaponry, SNP leader Yousaf said: “The Israeli Government must be held to account. Enough is enough.
“The UK Government continues to send arms to Israel despite the fact they have killed children, women, aid workers and bombed hospitals, schools and refugee camps.
“Shameful and unacceptable. Arms sales to Israel must stop immediately.”
In a statement on Instagram, he added the hashtag “NotATarget”.
In February, scores of UN experts said that the UK Government must stop the export of weapons or weapon parts to Israel “immediately” or its officials could face individual legal prosecution.
The UK Government has remained intransigent.
Reacting to the news of the death of the seven aid workers, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “shocked and saddened”.
Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to the north east of England: “We are asking Israel to investigate what happened urgently, because clearly there are questions that need to be answered.”
He added: “My thoughts are with their friends and family.
“They are doing fantastic work bringing alleviation to the suffering that many are experiencing in Gaza.
“They should be praised and commended for what they are doing.
“They need to be allowed to do that work unhindered and it is incumbent on Israel to make sure they can do that.”
READ MORE: David Pratt: Joe Biden is sending bombs amid a famine in Gaza
Keir Starmer has called for international law to be upheld as he described the deaths as “outrageous and unacceptable”.
The Labour leader said: “Reports of the death of British nationals, among others from World Central Kitchen, in an Israeli strike on Gaza are horrifying. Our thoughts are with the families of all of those killed.
“We condemn this strike. There must be a full investigation and those responsible must be held to account.
“Humanitarian workers put their lives in danger to serve others. Their deaths are outrageous and unacceptable and it is not the first time aid workers have come under fire in Israel’s campaign.
“International law must be upheld and humanitarian workers must be protected so that they can deliver the aid that is so desperately needed.
“This war must stop now. Far too many innocent people have died in this conflict and more than a million are facing starvation.
“Labour repeats our call for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages and full humanitarian access into Gaza.”
WCK chief executive Erin Gore said: “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. This is unforgivable.
“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.”
Alicia Kearns, the chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, told the PA news agency that there must be a “thorough and swift” investigation into the incident.
She added: “There is also still no explanation for the bombing of the Medical Aid for Palestine complex in a safe zone, which had also been deconflicted directly with the IDF in January, which four British doctors fortunately survived.
“Humanitarian agencies must be given the assurances they need that their people will be protected.”
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