Family of British aid worker killed in Gaza calls for independent investigation

Family of British aid worker killed in Gaza calls for independent investigation

LONDON, September 4, 2024 (BSS/AFP) – The family of a British aid worker killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza in April called on Wednesday for an independent investigation into his death.

James Kirby, from Bristol in southwest England, was one of seven people killed in an attack on a World Central Kitchen food convoy.

The deaths aroused the anger of leading politicians and Israel called the attack a “grave mistake”.

Former soldier Kirby and two other Britons killed were part of the security team accompanying the relief workers from the US-based aid organization.

On behalf of his family, his cousin Louise Kirby called for a “proper and independent investigation into this attack on innocent aid workers” before a memorial service for Kirby.

“Although we have received a lot of support, we are still finding it difficult to find answers and responsibility for what happened,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

Kirby said the family was “surprised” that there had been no contact with the Israeli ambassador to Britain or any other Israeli official.

“The family of a loved one who has been killed needs closure. We need to understand how this disaster could have happened,” she said.

“But this is not just about us. It is about how Britain looks after its own citizens and their families when a British citizen has been unlawfully killed by another state.”

A British government spokesman said: “The deaths of James and his fellow aid workers were horrific and our thoughts are with their families.”

“Israel must guarantee the protection of aid workers and ensure that a tragedy like this cannot happen again,” the spokesman added.

Last week, the US aid group Anera said four people accompanying its convoy in Gaza were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel said its military had engaged armed attackers.

The World Food Programme also said it was suspending the movements of its staff in the Gaza Strip “until further notice” after one of its vehicles was hit by gunfire at an Israeli military checkpoint.

In May, the United Nations said an Indian security official was killed and another injured when a UN vehicle on its way to a hospital in Rafah was hit.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK was asked for comment.