British government summons Israeli ambassador after deaths of aid workers in Gaza

Three of them were British citizens. British Development and Africa Secretary Andrew Mitchell condemned the “horrendous murder” and demanded a “speedy and transparent investigation” and “full accountability” from Israel.

He also urged an “effective deconfliction mechanism” and an “immediate humanitarian pause” to deliver aid and free hostages.

Aid workers from the American organization World Central Kitchen were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Monday. They came from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Palestine and the United States and Canada. The organization has suspended its operations in the region.

UK-backed Israel has been carrying out a deadly offensive on Gaza since October. Some 33,000 Palestinians have been killed and 76,000 others injured, mainly children and women. Nearly nine in ten residents are displaced and suffer from a lack of food, water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In a preliminary ruling in January, the World Court ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and to stop obstructing international humanitarian aid to suffering civilians in Gaza.

In a new ruling at the end of March, the ICJ again ordered Israel to allow emergency aid facilities to Gazans.