The British Prime Minister has paid tribute to the “brave Brits” who were killed by Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Monday evening in Gaza.
Rishi Sunak warned the situation in Gaza is becoming “increasingly intolerable” and he called for an increase in aid.
Whilst delivering vital aid in Gaza John Chapman, 57, James Henderson, 33, and James Kirby were brutally killed by the IDF in a strike.
In paying tribute to the three British aid workers, Sunak told The Sun they were “brave Brits.”
The Prime Minister said, “It’s an awful, awful tragedy.
Read more related news:
Three British aid workers confirmed dead after Israeli strike in Gaza
To think these were brave Brits who were risking their lives to bring aid to people in need in Gaza… to have lost their lives in these circumstances is a tragedy. My thoughts obviously are with their families.”
Speaking with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening Sunak told him that he is “appalled by the killing of aid workers.”
His spokesperson said that Sunak has demanded a “thorough and transparent independent investigation into what happened.”
On Wednesday Sunak said, “We’ve always had a very careful export licensing regime that we adhere to. There are a set of rules regulations and procedures that we’ll always follow.
And I’ve been consistently clear with Prime Minister Netanyahu since the start of this conflict that whilst of course we defend Israel’s right to defend itself and it’s people against attacks from Hamas, they have to do that in accordance with humanitarian law, protect civilian lives, get more aid into Gaza.
“What we want to see is an immediate humanitarian pause to allow more aid in and crucially for more hostages to also be released – and that’s what we’ll continue to push for.
“What’s happened is a tragedy, and it shouldn’t have happened and there are questions that need answering and that’s why I’ve been very clear that what we expect is a thorough, transparent investigation into what has happened.
“Also I want to see a dramatic increase in the amount of aid flowing into Gaza and closer work with the aid agencies so these types of things just do not happen.”
The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told MPs in the House of Commons on Wednesday that the deaths of the three aid workers is “outrageous and unacceptable.”
Sir Keir said, “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.”
Celebrity chef José Andrés who founded the charity, World Central Kitchen has stopped all work in Gaza following the airstrike.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) who are a non-profit organisation (NGO) said that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) carried out the air strike even though they were “co-ordinating” their movements with the Israeli military.
WCK chief executive Erin Gore said in a statement on Tuesday, “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.
“The love they had for feeding people, the determination they embodied to show that humanity rises above all and the impact they made in countless lives will forever be remembered and cherished.”
