Family of aid worker killed in Gaza call for inquiry

The household of a British assistance idiosyncratic killed successful Gaza successful April has urged the authorities to motorboat an autarkic ineligible enquiry into his death.

James Kirby was 1 of 3 Britons killed successful Israeli drone strikes connected an assistance convoy tally by the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity.

Ahead of a memorial work for Mr Kirby astatine Bristol Cathedral connected Wednesday, the household besides criticised the authorities for not being successful interaction since his death.

And they expressed their “surprise” astatine not receiving immoderate interaction oregon condolence from Israel’s ambassador to the UK oregon immoderate Israeli authoritative since the attack.

Speaking connected behalf of the family, James’s cousin, Louise Kirby, said: “There indispensable beryllium a proper, autarkic enquiry into this onslaught connected guiltless assistance workers, and for the grounds to beryllium assessed, if appropriate, successful a applicable tribunal of law.

“However, unfortunately, families person had nary interaction from the UK Government since James and his colleagues’ deaths, nor person we received immoderate accusation arsenic to whether a credible, autarkic probe is taking place; oregon of the results of immoderate probe if it has taken place.”

She added: “I precise overmuch anticipation the premier curate volition instrumentality our concerns earnestly and instigate an appropriate, autarkic oregon ineligible enquiry – not lone truthful we tin person transparency and accountability, but truthful that different British citizens and their families cognize that their authorities volition enactment for them, if a overseas authorities unlawfully kills their loved ones.”

James Kirby, 47, a erstwhile serviceman, was 1 of 7 killed successful the aerial strikes connected an assistance convoy tally by WCK connected 1 April.

Two different Britons – John Chapman, 57, and James Henderson, 33 – were besides killed. They were providing information for the convoy moving nutrient to a warehouse successful Gaza.

The IDF has said a drone relation mistakenly targeted the convoy aft reasoning it had been taken implicit by Hamas gunmen.

Three missiles were fired successful 3 locations implicit 5 minutes. The archetypal rocket deed a car and immoderate passengers escaped to different vehicle. That was past deed by a 2nd missile. Some survivors tried to fly successful a 3rd car which was besides struck. Everyone successful the convoy was killed.

After an interior investigation, the IDF sacked 2 officers and formally reprimanded 2 elder commanders.

The grounds from the probe was passed to the subject advocator wide - the Israeli army's apical ineligible authorization - to find if determination had been immoderate transgression conduct.

In the aftermath of the attack, the then-Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, called for a “thorough and transparent autarkic investigation” into what had happened.

In the statement, Louise Kirby thanked friends and supporters – including WCK – for their support. She said the household had been touched to person idiosyncratic letters of condolence from the King and Queen and the erstwhile Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron.

But she said “the murder” of James and his chap assistance workers was “a diabolical tragedy” and the household were “still struggling to find answers and accountability for what happened”.

She said that, fixed Israel had said the strikes were an accident, the household had been amazed not to person had immoderate interaction oregon connection of condolence from Israel’s ambassador to the UK, nor from immoderate Israeli official.

"Any household of a loved 1 who has been killed needs closure. We request to recognize however this catastrophe could person happened," she said.

"But this is not conscionable astir us. This is astir however Britain looks aft its ain citizens and their families, erstwhile a British national has been unlawfully killed by different state.”

Ms Kirby added: “We admit the compassion and respect we person been shown, but we indispensable besides person transparency and accountability. How did this happen? Who is responsible? What accountability did they face?

"Just saying ‘sorry it was an accident’ is not enough. We request to know, and we request to cognize determination has been accountability astatine each levels, truthful it ne'er happens again.”

A authorities spokesperson said the bereaved families were being supported by constabulary liaison enactment officers who were “regular contact” with the Foreign Office.

“The decease of James and his chap assistance workers was horrific and our thoughts stay with their families,” the spokesperson said.

“Attacks connected assistance workers are ne'er justified and we stay afloat committed to their extortion arsenic they enactment immoderate of the astir susceptible radical successful the world.”

“There indispensable beryllium an contiguous ceasefire to support civilians and assistance workers, unafraid the merchandise of each hostages and guarantee overmuch much assistance gets into Gaza. Israel indispensable warrant the extortion of assistance workers and guarantee a calamity similar this cannot hap again.”

The spokesperson did not code the families’ request for an autarkic inquiry.

The Israeli embassy successful London was approached for comment.

Israel launched its subject run successful Gaza successful effect to Hamas's unprecedented onslaught connected confederate Israel connected 7 October during which astir 1,200 were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

More than 40,000 radical person been killed successful Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run wellness ministry.