Pressure Grows To Halt Arms To Israel After British Aid Workers Killed In Gaza

Pressure is growing on the UK government to halt the sale of arms to Israel after three British aid workers were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, amid concerns the country could be breaking international law.

The World Food Kitchen charity, which has provided millions of meals for Gazans since the war between Israel and Hamas began on 7 October, confirmed on Tuesday that three British nationals were among seven people killed in airstrikes conducted by the Israeli military on Monday. 

Responding to the deaths, prime minister Rishi Sunak has said "Israel must explain how this tragic incident happened and take immediate steps to protect aid workers" in Gaza - with foreign secretary David Cameron stating Israel must "make major changes to ensure safety of aid workers on the ground". 

Elsewhere, Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely was also summoned to a meeting at the foreign office, with development minister Andrew Mitchell in a statement afterwards stating he told Hotovely he "unequivocally" condemned the killings and "requested a quick and transparent investigation, shared with the international community, and full accountability". 

Labour leader Keir Starmer in a statement said the deaths were "horrifying", calling for "a full investigation", and an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza. 

32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, with much of region's key infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, destroyed. More than 100 Israeli hostages are also currently being held in Gaza by Hamas, after more than 1,200 Israelis were killed in Hamas' October terror attacks that triggered the escalation of violence.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who is the UK's only MP of Palestinian heritage, told PoliticsHome that