THREE BRITONS KILLED ON GAZA MERCY MISSION

THREE British forces veterans were among seven aid workers killed in an Israeli drone strike on a food convoy in Gaza. 

- Michael Knowtes

Former marine James Henderson, By Michael Knowles Defence Editor 33, ex-Special Forces hero John Chapman, 57, and Army veteran James Kirby died with four other World Central Kitchen staff.

They were travelling in a convoy of cars delivering aid on Monday night. The other victims were from Australia and Poland.

They were killed along with a US-Canadian man and a Palestinian driver.

Rishi Sunak said yesterday he was "appalled" by the tragedy and warned Benjamin Netanyahu, his Israeli counter-part, in a phone call that "far too many" aid workers have been killed in Gaza where a humanitarian crisis has become "increasingly intolerable".

Mr Netanyahu had said the convoy was hit "unintentionally" as fury mounted over the deadly attack in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said he is demanding "a thorough and transparent independent investigation".

He added that Mr Sunak reiterated to Mr Netanyahu that "Israel's rightful aim of defeating Hamas would not be achieved by allowing a humanitarian catastrophe".

The PM said that aid workers "should be praised and commended" and "need to be allowed to work unhindered", adding: "It's incumbent on Israel to make sure they can." Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the tragedy was "completely unacceptable" and demanded an investigation and "urgent changes" to protect humanitarian staff.

Meanwhile, Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely was summoned to an urgent meeting with Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell, who said: "I set out the Government's unequivocal condemnation of the appalling killing of seven aid workers, including three British nationals." A close friend of Mr Henderson paid tribute last night, saying: "He was a lovely lad. He hadn't been out there long-only a couple of weeks.