Key facts
- An inquest into the deaths of three British aid workers in Gaza may call on Israeli and UK military commanders.
An inquest into the deaths of three British aid workers killed in Gaza may seek testimony from Israeli and UK military commanders. The investigation could also examine whether the weaponry used in the airstrike that killed John Chapman, Jim Henderson, and James Kirby was manufactured in the UK. The senior coroner for Avon indicated a widening of the inquest's scope to include the role of Israeli authorities.
The inquest's potential expansion could shed light on accountability for the deaths of aid workers, the role of international military actions, and the potential involvement of UK-manufactured weaponry in conflict zones, raising questions about supply chains and foreign policy.
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, John Chapman, 57, Jim Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, were killed when aid vehicles they were traveling in were hit by an airstrike in April 2024.
At a pre-inquest review, Maria Voisin, the senior coroner for Avon, stated she was "minded" to designate the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the colonel who ordered the strikes, Nochi Mendel, as "interested parties." This designation signifies a close involvement in the events leading to the deaths.
Israeli military authorities recently announced they would not open criminal investigations into the strike, a decision that drew criticism from the UK, Australian, and Canadian governments. Lawyers representing the families have drawn parallels to the inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess following the novichok attack in Salisbury, where a lack of Russian investigation led to an expanded scope of inquiry.
Lawyers also highlighted the potential involvement of a Royal Air Force surveillance plane that was reportedly above Gaza for several hours on the day of the attack, minutes before the airstrikes. The families are seeking to understand what surveillance data, if any, was gathered and shared with Israeli authorities. Furthermore, they wish to ascertain if the weaponry used to kill the men was manufactured in the UK.
Neil Henderson, father of Jim Henderson, expressed hope for a comprehensive investigation encompassing "decisions and policies leading to the attack, and what role, if any, UK authorities or military equipment originating from the UK may have played."
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.