Israel’s war on Gaza: Gaza aidship turns back after deadly lsraeli strike on convoy

Israel’s war on Gaza: Gaza aidship turns back after deadly lsraeli strike on convoy

Live reporting  BBC

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

Summary

Pressure is mounting on Israel after seven people working for food aid charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza

Three British nationals, John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby, were among those killed.

Australian, Polish, Palestinian workers and a dual US-Canadian citizen were also killed.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says the convoy they were in was hit unintentionally.

There’s been widespread condemnation of the strike from world leaders, along with demands for explanation.

US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” and accused Israel of not doing enough to protect aid workers.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deaths “appalled” him and that the situation in Gaza is “increasingly intolerable”.

Israel has promised an independent investigation into the incident.

Edited by Aoife Walsh

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Family ‘utterly heartbroken’ after death of British aid worker, James Kirby

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

The family of James Kirby – one of the three British nationals killed in the Israeli air strike in Gaza – have paid tribute to him. They say he will be remembered as a hero.

James Kirby’s family statement – in full

“As a family, we are utterly heartbroken by the loss of our beloved James Kirby. Alongside the other six individuals who tragically lost their lives, he will be remembered as a hero.

“James understood the dangers of venturing into Gaza, drawing from his experiences in the British Armed Forces, where he bravely served tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan. Despite the risks, his compassionate nature drove him to offer assistance to those in dire need.

“A genuine gentleman, James was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone, even in the face of senseless violence.

“James lost his life trying to save others, he will never know what a void he has left, our family will never be the same.

“We are so incredibly proud of who James was and what he achieved. Never stop caring and trying to help people. Love will eventually overcome hate.”

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Concern grows over Israeli war tactics

James Landale

Diplomatic correspondent

We have known for some time there have been tensions and frustrations within the US-Israel relationship, which is so crucial to events that have taken place in the Middle East.

These frustrations have been very much on show overnight.

US President Joe Biden put out a statement saying he was “outraged” and “heartbroken” at the killing of the seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen, that Israel has admitted it was responsible for.

But he also said, very specifically, not just what all other world leaders said – that there should be an investigation, that it should be swift, that there should be accountability and the findings should be made public.

Biden said this is not a standalone incident and that 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 aid in Gaza has been so difficult, because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers.

What is so significant about this is it’s a demonstration of the allies becoming increasingly concerned by way Israel is prosecuting its war.

The UN secretary general Antonio Guterres echoed this on the floor of the UN General Assembly last night, saying that what had happened was an “inevitable result of the way the war was being conducted”.

In other words, regardless of the actual findings of any investigation, what Biden is suggesting, what the UN leader is suggesting, is just the nature of the way Israel is behaving militarily on the battlefield is a way they are becoming unhappy with.

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Deaths of aid workers appalling, Unicef says

The Israeli strike that killed seven aid workers in Gaza was “appalling”, Unicef says.

Tess Ingram, Unicef’s communications specialist, told BBC Breakfast: “These were brave humanitarian workers trying to do their job.

“This absolutely should not happen in the line of duty and it is appalling they have been killed.”

She says Unicef’s operations in Gaza have been impacted by World Central Kitchen – the charity the seven victims worked for – “pausing their operations as they are one of the big helpers”.

“We have lost so many colleagues. It is dangerous for us and it is also dangerous for people in Gaza,” she adds.