An inquest into the deaths of three British aid workers killed in a Gaza airstrike may request evidence from Israeli and UK military commanders and examine whether the weaponry used was made in the UK.
Key facts
- Three British aid workers were killed when aid vehicles they were travelling in were hit by an airstrike in Gaza.
- The victims were named as John Chapman, 57, Jim Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47.
- A review hearing was told Israeli and UK military commanders could be requested to give evidence.
- The inquest may examine whether the weaponry that killed the men was made in the UK.
Israeli and UK military commanders could be asked to give evidence to an inquest concerning three British aid workers who were killed in Gaza when the aid vehicles they were travelling in were hit by an airstrike, according to the Guardian.
The inquest concerns the deaths of John Chapman, 57, Jim Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47. A review hearing was told that the proceedings may seek testimony from senior figures in both the Israeli and UK militaries as part of efforts to establish the circumstances of the deaths.
A lawyer told the review hearing that the families wish to know whether the weaponry involved in the deaths was made in the UK. As a result, the inquest may examine the origins of the weaponry that killed the men.
The possibility of calling military chiefs from two countries signals the potential scope of the inquest, which is set to investigate how the aid vehicles came to be struck. The Guardian reported that both the involvement of commanders and the question of the weaponry’s manufacture are among the matters that could be considered.
The three men were among aid workers travelling in vehicles at the time of the airstrike. The inquest is expected to focus on the families’ outstanding questions about the deaths and the equipment used.
Why it matters
The deaths of British nationals delivering aid in a conflict zone raise questions about accountability and the origins of weapons used in the strike. An inquest that could call foreign military commanders and examine UK-made weaponry would test how far a British legal process can probe events overseas.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the British aid workers killed in Gaza?
They were named as John Chapman, 57, Jim Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47. They died when the aid vehicles they were travelling in were hit by an airstrike.
What could the inquest examine?
According to the Guardian, the inquest may request evidence from Israeli and UK military commanders and could examine whether the weaponry that killed the men was made in the UK.
Why do the families want the inquest to look at the weaponry?
A lawyer told a review hearing that the families wish to know whether the weaponry involved in the deaths was made in the UK.