Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes duty for Gaza strike which killed three Britons | EUROtoday

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken duty for the strike on a Gaza help convoy which killed three British residents – however insisted the assault was “unintended”.

Rishi Sunak has demanded that Israel urgently examine the strikes, which killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) help staff on Monday evening, together with a Palestinian, an Australian, a Polish nationwide, an American-Canadian twin citizen.

The three Britons have been named by the BBC as James Henderson, John Chapman and James Kirby on Tuesday evening.

With Australia, Spain and Poland additionally urgent for solutions, and the White House warning it was “deeply troubled” by the deadly assault on the convoy of help vehicles, Mr Netanyahu stated: “Unfortunately over the last day there was a tragic incident of an unintended strike of our forces on innocent people in the Gaza Strip.”

“This happens in wartime. We are thoroughly looking into it, are in contact with the governments [of the foreigners among the dead] and will do everything to ensure it does not happen again,” Mr Netanyahu stated in a video message.

The convoy – consisting of two armoured vehicles branded with the WCK brand and a soft-skin automobile – was hit because it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, the place the group had unloaded greater than 100 tonnes of humanitarian meals help taken to Gaza on the maritime route, the help group stated.

The “unforgivable” assault got here regardless of the charity coordinating on its actions with the Israeli army alongside accredited routes, stated WCK, which was based by Spanish-American superstar chef José Andrés. He described the help staff as “angels” and stated he was “heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends”.

The charity introduced it has suspended its actions within the area.

The our bodies have been taken to al-Aqsa hospital, a few of them carrying protecting gear with the emblem of World Central Kitchen charity, The Independent understands. The Palestine Red Crescent Society stated the operation to get well the seven our bodies took “several hours”.

The Israeli army hit the convoy thrice with a drone as the help staff tried to dive for canopy between the automobiles and drive these wounded to security, safety sources advised Haaretz.

Expressing the “deepest condolences” to the help staff’ bereaved households, the IDF insisted it was “reviewing the incident at the highest levels” and stated it could be “investigated in the Fact Finding and Assessment Mechanism: an independent, professional, and expert body”.

“Last night, an incident took place in Gaza that resulted in the tragic death of World Central Kitchen employees as they fulfilled their vital mission of bringing food to people in need,” an IDF spokesperson stated.

“As a professional military committed to international law, we are committed to examining our operations thoroughly and transparently. I just spoke to WCK Founder, Chef Jose Anders, and expressed the deepest condolences of the Israel Defence Forces to the families and the entire World Central Kitchen family.

“We also express sincere sorrow to our allied nations who have been doing and continue to do so much to assist those in need. We will be opening a probe to examine this serious incident further. This will help us reduce the risk of such an event from occurring again.”

Australian nationwide, Zomi Frankcom, 43, was the primary of the seven to be named. Former WCK chief govt Nate Mook, who first employed Ms Frankcom, described her to The Independent as a “shining star” and “gift to the world”.

Ms Frankcom was interviewed by this publication simply three weeks earlier than she was killed, from a Jordanian army base the place she was coordinating the supply of humanitarian help by way of airdrops.

Polish citizen Damian Sobol, 35, has additionally been named as among the many useless. He began volunteering with WCK on the outset of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, to assist feed refugees within the border city of Przemysl, earlier than becoming a member of the charity’s response to the earthquakes in Turkey after which in Gaza.

Lord David Cameron stated the UK’s Foreign Office was “working to verify” reviews that British nationals have been among the many help staff killed, including that the federal government wished “a full, transparent explanation of what happened”.

Senior Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Commons international affairs committee, additionally demanded a “thorough and swift” investigation.

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.”

Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer known as for worldwide regulation to be upheld as he described the deaths as “outrageous and unacceptable”.

“We condemn this strike,” he stated. “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.”

David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, stated the organisation “grieves with [WCK] at the senseless loss”, including: “[Aid workers’] protection is a legal and moral right for civilians and the aid workers there to help them.

“The war in Gaza has cost too many lives. We call not just for safety and aid flows but for a sustained ceasefire.”

Additional reporting by companies