Britain will 'hold Israel to account' for killing of three British ex-forces heroes in Gaza, Lord Cameron warns - amid worldwide fury at IDF strike on food convoy that left seven aid workers dead
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Lord Cameron has pledged to 'hold Israel to account' for the killing of three British ex-servicemen in Gaza.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the Foreign Secretary would not be drawn on growing demands to suspend arms sales to Israel in the wake of the atrocity.
He rejected claims the British government is downplaying the incident to avoid upsetting Israel. Lord Cameron described this week's triple drone strike on the World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy as 'appalling' and paid tribute to the seven aid workers killed.
Worldwide fury at the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has intensified this week after the workers were struck by a missile while trying to deliver food to Palestinians in a clearly marked charity vehicle.
US President Joe Biden, in a tense call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has demanded an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza, alleging a cessation was now 'essential' and American support was conditional on new steps to protect aid workers and civilians.
Mr Biden's remarks go further than the British Government, which has sought an 'immediate pause' in fighting to create the conditions for a 'sustainable ceasefire'.
Lord Cameron (pictured last month) has pledged to 'hold Israel to account' for the killing of three British ex-servicemen in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary described this week's triple drone strike on the World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy as 'appalling' and paid tribute to the seven aid workers killed
British victims (L-R) John Chapman, 57, James 'Jim' Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, were killed in the attack
A view of the vehicle where employees from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza
A man pushes a bicycle along as he walks amid building rubble in the devastated area around Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital on April 3, 2024
Israeli troops move in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel on April 4, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas
The brother of aid worker Jim Henderson, one of the three British victims, yesterday said it was 'hard to comprehend' the Government's response.
In a statement to The Times on behalf of the family, he said: 'Accountability is the only hope of justice I have... I don't believe our Government will hold the correct people to account, but I guarantee our Government will sell weapons to Israel, which may... be used to kill our fellow citizens.'
Who were the World Central Kitchen workers killed in Gaza? Three British ex-forces heroes, aid workers and driver
Lord Cameron told the Mail Mr Netanyahu and other senior ministers 'know how serious this issue is and how they have got to get to the bottom of it and frankly make sure it never happens again'.
Responding to Mr Henderson's comments, he added: 'We will hold Israel to account. That is what the transparent full inquiry is all about.
'When these things happen even on a battlefield ... they have consequences'. But he declined to say if the UK is confident Israel is acting within international law – or if arms sales might be suspended.
Yesterday, Israel placed its embassies around the world on maximum alert and cancelled all military leave after Iran vowed to respond to an IDF airstrike on its consulate which killed a senior general.
Downing Street yesterday denied reports that Rishi Sunak told Mr Netanyahu Britain 'will be forced to declare Israel a violator of international humanitarian law' unless it allows more aid in to feed Gaza's population.
But No 10 did not dispute a leaked account from Israel's Channel 13 that the PM told Mr Netanyahu: 'Britain supports the elimination of Hamas – but not at the cost of a humanitarian catastrophe... This is not good for us – and it is not good for you.'
Since 2008, the UK has licensed arms worth more than £574 million to Israel. Department for Business and Trade officials involved in the sales have called in their union over fears they could be held liable if Israel is seen to have broken international law.
Ex Cabinet Minister David Jones confirmed colleagues were organising a letter urging Lord Cameron to investigate whether Israel had broken international law.
US President Joe Biden, in a tense call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, has demanded an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza, alleging a cessation was now 'essential' and American support was conditional on new steps to protect aid workers and civilians. Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu are pictured together in Tel Aviv, Israel in October 2023
Wreckage of a World Central Kitchen vehicle in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip after seven aid workers - including three British ex-servicemen - were killed in an Israeli drone strike
Members of the World Central Kitchen aid group, transports the body of one of the six foreign aid workers who were killed in an Israeli strike, at a hospital morgue in Rafah on Wednesday
Ambulances carry bodies of the victims of the Israeli drone strike on WCK vehicles out of Gaza for repatriation
A former British Army Major has said the IDF would have known everything about the WCK aid convoy before Monday's drone strike.
Chris Lincoln-Jones, upon reviewing images of the damaged vehicles, characterised the strikes as highly targeted and said the missiles were 'absolutely, perfectly accurate'.
The drone - an Elbit Hermes 450 - is built in Israel and constitutes one of the IDF's foremost intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance vehicles.
It carries both electro-optical and infrared cameras to 'capture high-quality imagery during day or night', according to Air Force Technology, suggesting IDF operators would have clearly seen the WCK logo emblazoned on the white cars.
Lincoln-Jones also said Israel 'probably even know the names of the people on board', given the convoy had been travelling along a pre-approved deconflicted route, in comments to The Times.
His comments followed those of WCK founder José Andrés and CEO Erin Gore, who accused the IDF of deliberately and 'systematically' targeting the aid convoy.
'This was not just a bad luck situation where ''oops'' we dropped the bomb in the wrong place.
'This was over 1.5km, 1.8km, with a very defined humanitarian convoy that had signs in the top, in the roof, a very colourful logo... It's very clear who we are and what we do,' Andrés said
Gore added: 'All three vehicles were carrying civilians... their movements were in full compliance with Israeli authorities, who were aware of their itinerary, route, and humanitarian mission.'
Meanwhile, former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger labelled Israel's war in Gaza 'reckless' and said such incidents undermine Tel-Aviv's insistence the attacks on Hamas are morally justifiable following October 7.
'My view is that what happened is essentially systematic of an approach to targeting that has, on occasion, bordered on the reckless,' he told BBC's Today podcast.
'Fundamentally undermines therefore what must be Israel's political objectives, which is to sustain some moral high ground and some moral purpose.'
'It's hard not to conclude that insufficient care is being paid to these collateral risks of these operations,' he concluded.
The drone used in the attack - an Elbit Hermes 450 - is built in Israel and constitutes one of the IDF's foremost intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance vehicles
Chris Lincoln-Jones, upon reviewing images of the damaged vehicles, characterised the strikes as highly targeted and said the missiles were 'absolutely, perfectly accurate' (Elbit Hermes 450 drone pictured)
Former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger labelled Israel's war in Gaza and the aid convoy strike 'reckless'
Palestinian boys sit on building rubble following overnight Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on April 4, 2024
Smoke rises above destroyed buildings following an Israeli strike in Gaza on April 4, 2024
Israeli tanks move in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel on April 4, 2024
A picture released by the Israeli army on April 4, 2024 shows Israeli troops operating in the Gaza Strip amid continuing battles with Hamas
Israeli troops continue to operate in the Gaza Strip amid the war with Hamas, as seen in this picture released by the Israeli army on April 4, 2024
British veterans Mr Chapman, Mr Henderson, and Mr Kirby were killed in the attack along with four other aid workers.
They were named as Australian Lalzawmi 'Zomi' Frankcom, Pole Damian Soból, Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha and US-Canada citizen Jacob Flickinger.
Shocking images disseminated on social media showed their aid vehicles blown apart by the drone's missiles - one had a gaping hole in the roof while another truck had its rear end hanging off, the interior reduced to a charred wreck.
Israeli authorities have so far apologised for the strikes and said an investigation would be held 'at the highest levels' to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
But Israel's economy minister Nir Barkat dismissed WCF comments as 'nonsense', claiming that 'unfortunately, friendly fire happens' and arguing that Israeli forces did not deliberately fire on aid workers.
The aid convoy strike prompted an international outpouring of anger, with world leaders including PM Sunak and Lord Cameron calling for an 'immediate investigation' and a 'full, transparent explanation'.
Mr Biden threatened on Thursday to condition support for Israel's offensive in Gaza on it taking concrete steps to protect aid workers and civilians, seeking for the first time to leverage US aid to influence Israeli military behaviour.
The US president, a lifelong supporter of Israel, has resisted pressure to withhold aid or halt the shipment of weapons to the country. His warning marked the first time he has threatened to potentially condition aid, a development that could change the dynamic of the nearly six-month-old war.
Mr Biden 'made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers' the White House said of the leaders' phone call. It said the call lasted about 30 minutes.
Palestinians living in al-Maghazi Refugee Camp collect the usable items among the rubble of the destroyed buildings following an Israeli attack in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on April 4, 2024
Palestinians search for missing people under the rubble of a house following an Israeli air strike in the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza on April 4, 2024
Palestinians shelter in a makeshift tent made from a parachute used to airdrop food aid, set up on the rubble of their home in a devastated area around Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital on April 2, 2024
Search and rescue crews sift through rubble in Rafah, Gaza on April 1, 2024 after an Israeli attack hits the Zorob family building
Palestinians living in al-Maghazi Refugee Camp collect the usable items among the rubble of the destroyed buildings following an Israeli attack in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on April 4, 2024
