The United Kingdom summoned Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely in London to protest the IDF airstrike that killed seven humanitarian workers from the World Central Kitchen, including three British citizens.
“I set out the government’s unequivocal condemnation of the appalling killing” and “requested a quick and transparent investigation, shared with the international community, and full accountability,” Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said.
The United Kingdom has been one of Israel’s staunch allies since the start of the Gaza war on October 7, but on Tuesday it joined the international community in lashing out at the government for failing to put in place a proper distribution system for humanitarian assistance.
“I reiterated the need for Israel to put in place an effective deconfliction mechanism immediately and urgently to scale up humanitarian access. We need to see an immediate humanitarian pause, to get aid in and the hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable ceasefire,” Mitchell stressed.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X that Israel must explain “how this tragic incident happened,” adding that “all our thoughts are with the families of those killed.”
David Cameron speaks to Israel Katz
In a post on X British Foreign Secretary said he underscored these messages when he spoke with Foreign Minister Israel Katz about the incident.
“These were people who were working to deliver life-saving aid to those who desperately need it. It is essential that humanitarian workers are protected and able to carry out their work,” Cameron wrote.
Katz offered his condolences to Cameron over the death of the British citizens in this “tragic event” which he assured him was under investigation the results of which would be shared with the UK.
Israel, he stressed, was taking every step possible to “ensure the safety of aid workers in Gaza.
He stressed that Israel was “interested in continuing to operate in cooperation with Great Britain and other countries.”