Two British aid workers killed in Gaza airstrike named

Two of the three British aid workers killed in Gaza air strikes have been named as John Chapman and James Henderson.

World Central Kitchen (WCK) volunteers are believed to be among seven aid workers killed on Monday after the convoy they were traveling in was hit as they left a warehouse in Deir al-Balah overnight.

Documents seen by Sky News show Chapman, 57, was due to leave the Palestinian territories on April 1.

Research by Sky News’ data and forensics team shows Mr Chapman registered to enter the Palestinian territories on March 22, and information from Gaza’s General Transit Authority shows he is listed as a security adviser.

Among the victims were nationals from Poland and Australia, as well as a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and a Palestinian who was driving the car they were traveling in.

Middle East latest news: Israel expresses condolences over ‘tragic death’

The volunteers are working with WCK, an organization that provides food to displaced Palestinians.

The workers are believed to have been helping deliver aid, which had arrived hours earlier on a ship from Cyprus.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Acknowledging Israeli military responsibility for the airstrike, it called it a “tragic incident in which our forces inadvertently attacked innocent people in the Gaza Strip.”

He added: “This happens in a war and we will get to the bottom of it, we are in contact with governments and we will do everything we can to make sure this never happens again.”

His comments came after British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said he had spoken to his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz to “stress that the deaths of WCK aid workers in Gaza, including three British citizens, are completely unacceptable” .

The IDF said it was conducting a “thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident”.

A spokesman added in a statement: “The Israel Defense Forces have made extensive efforts to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.”

Erin Gore, chief executive of WCK, said the team of rescuers was “traveling in a conflict-free area in two armored vehicles bearing the WCK logo and a softcover vehicle” when they were attacked.

Ms Gore added: “This is an attack not just on WCK, but on humanitarian organizations that emerge in the most dire situations where food is used as a weapon of war.

“This is inexcusable.

“I am heartbroken and shocked that we – World Central Kitchen and the world – lost a beautiful life today because of a targeted attack by the Israel Defense Forces.

“Their love for feeding humanity, the determination they embodied to show humanity above all else, and the impact they had on countless lives will always be remembered and cherished.”

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Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the Australian aid worker who died in the incident, whom he named Zomi Frankcom.

Mr Albanese said he had contacted the Israeli ambassador to demand accountability for Ms Frankkom’s death.

WCK, founded in 2010 by celebrity chef Jose Andres, said last month it had served more than 42 million meals in Gaza in 175 days.