British veterans working in security killed in strike on Gaza food convoy
Three Armed Forces veterans who were killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza have been hailed as "heroes" amid mounting international condemnation of the attack.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) confirmed 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.
Their 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, the charity said.
WCK immediately suspended operations in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the aid workers were killed by an "unintended strike" by Israeli forces.
WCK's chief executive Erin Gore described the victims as "the heroes of World Central Kitchen".
US President Joe Biden said he was "outraged and heartbroken" by the deaths and said he had spoken to WCK founder Jose Andres.
The British victims
James 'Jim' Henderson
According to The Times, Mr Henderson was a former Royal Marine from Cornwall who was due to leave Gaza on Monday.
The 33-year-old formed part of the relief team's security detail, the World Central Kitchen said.
According to his LinkedIn page, he was a former roofer from Cornwall who served for six years in the Royal Marines.
He described himself as a "highly disciplined, courteous and proactive individual" who "takes the health and safety of others very seriously".
"A highly disciplined, courteous and proactive individual who is mobile, offers flexibility and is willing to take on any further training necessary to offer the best service possible," the page reads.
He left the military in 2016 to pursue security jobs such as the one in Gaza. He wrote that his "true vocation lies in security" in a "civilian position".
John Chapman
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.
World Central Kitchen said the 57-year-old was among the charity's security team.
James Kirby
The third British national among the victims, the 47-year-old also worked in the charity's security team and was said to be a military veteran.
The Times said Kirby was also believed to be a former member of Britain's special forces, while the Telegraph reported he was a former Army rifleman and sniper marksman.
President Biden said: "This is not a standalone incident. This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed.
"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."
He said an Israeli investigation "must be swift, it must bring accountability and its findings must be made public".
"I will continue to press Israel to do more to facilitate that aid," he said. "And we are pushing hard for an immediate ceasefire as part of a hostage deal. I have a team in Cairo working on this right now."
During a phone call with Mr Netanyahu, Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the killings and demanded a thorough and transparent independent 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 independent 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.
"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."
Lieutenant General 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.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the killings were "completely unacceptable" as he pressed Israel for "major changes" to ensure the safety of aid workers.
Lord Cameron is attending a Nato foreign ministers' meeting on Wednesday where he is expected to encourage allies to "step up and spend more on defence".
The organisation they worked for, Solace Global, said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we confirm that seven humanitarian aid workers, including three security personnel from Solace Global, were tragically killed on Monday evening following a strike on World Central Kitchen’s humanitarian mission, delivering food aid to those in need in Gaza.
"Words cannot express the depth of sympathy that we feel for the families, friends, colleagues and loved ones of those who died. We are working closely to support them at this difficult time.
"We are humbled by the bravery of the men and women working in such complex environments to deliver vital aid, and pay tribute to those that lost their lives on Monday. Those who knew John, James and James have expressed pride for them enabling humanitarian efforts.
"We are committed to supporting the families and loved ones of those who died, and remain dedicated to the continuation of services for all of our clients."
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