Key facts
- An inquest into the deaths of three British aid workers in Gaza may call on Israeli and UK military commanders.
- The investigation could examine whether the weaponry used was made in the UK.
- The senior coroner for Avon indicated a widening of the inquest's scope to include Israeli authorities.
- The coroner is considering designating the IDF and the colonel who ordered the strikes as "interested parties."
- Israeli military authorities have refused to open criminal investigations into the strike.
- Families are also investigating the potential role of a Royal Air Force surveillance plane present on the day of the attack.
An inquest into the deaths of three British aid workers in Gaza may expand its scope to include testimony from Israeli and UK military commanders, and potentially examine the origin of the weaponry used. The workers, James Kirby, John Chapman, and James "Jim" Henderson, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on April 1, 2024.
At a pre-inquest review at Avon Coroner's Court, senior coroner Maria Voisin indicated she was "minded to grant" the Israeli army and Colonel Nochi Mendel, who ordered the strike, "interested person" status. This designation allows them to participate in the inquest, see evidence, and provide their account. Colonel Mendel was removed from his post after the attack, which the Israeli army attributed to a series of failures, including breaches of its rules of engagement.
Israeli military authorities announced in August that they would not open criminal investigations into the strike, a decision condemned by the UK, Canada, and Australia. Lawyers for the families are seeking accountability and explanations, with Tayab Ali, solicitor for James Kirby's family, welcoming the coroner's statement. Ali also requested the coroner hear from the UK Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office, and Israeli military manufacturer Elbit Systems.
Further questions remain open regarding the potential role of a Royal Air Force surveillance plane that was reportedly over Gaza for several hours on the day of the attack, returning to base minutes before the strike. Barrister Pete Weatherby KC, representing Henderson, submitted that the families want to know if any intelligence gathered by the RAF plane was shared with the Israeli army. The families also seek to establish whether the weapons used were manufactured in the UK, a question described as a "matter of public concern."