INTERNATIONAL condemnation of an Israeli air strike which killed seven aid workers has continued to grow.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) confirmed British victims John Chapman, 57, James “Jim” Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, who were working for the charity’s security team, were among seven of its staff killed.
The team’s leader, Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, 43, an Australian national, also died, along with American-Canadian dual citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33, Polish national Damian Sobol, 35, and Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25.
According to The Times, Mr Henderson was a former Royal Marine from Cornwall who was due to leave Gaza on Monday.
READ MORE: Channel 4: Israeli official refuses to apologise for aid worker deaths
Mr Chapman, a father-of-two from Poole, Dorset, was also said to be a former Royal Marine and served in the Special Boat Service, the special forces unit of the Royal Navy, according to The Sun.
Mr Kirby is also believed to be a military veteran.
WCK’s chief executive Erin Gore described the victims as “the heroes of World Central Kitchen”.
International condemnation
Humza Yousaf has already called for immediate action from the UK Government following the attack.
Elsewhere, the SNP have also called on the Government to release any legal advice on whether Israel has broken international law.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (below) confirmed Israeli forces were behind the “unintended strike” on Tuesday.
During a phone call with Netanyahu, Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the killings and demanded a “thorough and transparent investigation”.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening.
“He said he was appalled by the killing of aid workers, including three British nationals, in an air strike in Gaza yesterday and demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into what happened.
“The Prime Minister said far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives in Gaza and the situation is increasingly intolerable.
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“The UK expects to see immediate action by Israel to end restrictions on humanitarian aid, deconflict with the UN and aid agencies, protect civilians and repair vital infrastructure like hospitals and water networks.
“The Prime Minister reiterated that Israel’s rightful aim of defeating Hamas would not be achieved by allowing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”
Elsewhere, US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the deaths and that he had spoken to WCK founder Jose Andres.
“This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed,” he said.
“This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult – because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians.
“Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen.”
Like Sunak, Biden (above) also called for a “swift” investigation into what happened.
What has Israel said?
Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, chief of the general staff of the Israel Defence Forces, said the incident was “a mistake that followed a misidentification – at night during a war in very complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened”.
He added that an independent body would conduct a “thorough investigation” which is to be completed in the coming days.
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