First Minister Humza Yousaf says 'enough is enough' after Israeli airstrike kills UK aid workers in Gaza

Humza Yousaf has said “enough is enough” after three British aid workers were killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza.

World Central Kitchen (WCK) confirmed British victims 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.

An Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen, and a Palestinian were also killed in the strike which was described as “unintended” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sharing a statement confirming the killings and an image of one of the charity’s vehicles hit by weaponry, the First Minister said the attack was “shameful and unacceptable” and slammed the UK Government for “continuing to send arms to Israel”.

World Central Kitchen (WCK) team members killed in Gaza. WCK

He said: “The Israeli Government must be held to account. Enough is enough.

“The UK Government continues to send arms to Israel despite the fact they have killed children, women, aid workers and bombed hospitals, school and refugee camps.

“Shameful and unacceptable. Arms sales to Israel must stop immediately.”

UK & International

Three British Aid workers killed in Gaza were ‘heroes’, says charity

Among the seven killed were British victims John Chapman, 57, James ‘Jim’ Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47 – part of the World Central Kitchen security team.

WCK’s chief executive Erin Gore described the victims as “the heroes of World Central Kitchen”.

According to The Times, Mr Henderson was a former Royal Marine from Cornwall who was due to leave Gaza on Monday.

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.

Mr Kirby is also believed to be a military veteran and a former member of Britain’s special forces.

During a phone call with 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.”

Lt Gen 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.