Family of British aid worker James Kirby killed in Gaza IDF air strike make ... trends now
The family of a British aid worker who was killed in an Israeli drone strike on a convoy of aid workers has said they are 'utterly heartbroken' by his death, and have hit out at the 'senseless violence' being seen in Gaza.
James Kirby, a military veteran, was among the security team for World Food Kitchen, and was in the convoy of aid workers which was hit on Monday.
In a statement to the BBC, his family said: 'Alongside the other six individuals who tragically lost their lives, he will be remembered as a hero.
'James understood the dangers of venturing into Gaza, drawing from his experiences in the British Armed Forces, where he bravely served tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
'Despite the risks, his compassionate nature drove him to offer assistance to those in dire need.'
The statement added the family are 'incredibly proud of who James was and what he achieved'.
It comes as world leaders have vented their fury at Israel following the 'outrageous' drone strike, which killed seven including three British armed forces heroes.
The aid convoy of three cars, which were clearly marked as working for the humanitarian organisation and moved along an IDF-approved route, was blasted in a 'triple tap' strike on Monday.
James Kirby has been described as someone who 'put his whole life into protecting others'
Julie Marshall paid a touching tribute to the British aid worker, who died while working for an aid charity
A British military veteran named last night by the BBC as James Kirby was also killed
James Henderson, 33, was travelling in a clearly marked car operated by World Central Kitchen, a charity providing meals to Palestinians in the war torn enclave, when the convoy was hit with three missiles fired by an IDF drone
John Chapman (pictured) and James Henderson were travelling in a clearly marked car operated by World Central Kitchen (WCK), a charity providing meals to Palestinians in the war-torn enclave, when the convoy was hit with three missiles fired by an IDF drone
Polish World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid worker Damian Sobol, who was killed in the Israeli airstrike in Gaza
Australian aid worker Lalzawmi (Zomi) Frankcom, 43, who was among those killed in the strike
Palestinian Saifeddine Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25, was part of the WCK team that was killed in the strike
American-Canadian Jacob Flickinger, 33, who was one of the seven victims of the strike
Among the passengers in the doomed aid convoy were former Royal Marine James Henderson, 33; former SBS soldier John Chapman, 57; as well as a British military veteran James Kirby.
A close friend of James Kirby's, Julie Marshall, paid a heartfelt tribute to him on Facebook alongside pictures of them together and with beloved pets.
'I am absolutely devastated, a man who literally stole my heart who I will never ever forget,' she wrote. 'He was the bravest kindest soul with a little mix of crazy.
'He put his whole life into protecting others and fighting for what he believed so strongly in. He went through so much yet still had the best humour and kindness.'
Britain summoned the Israeli ambassador to London and has demanded 'full accountability' over the deaths, which foreign secretary David Cameron described as 'completely unacceptable'.
Israel has apologised for what it called 'a grave mistake' and said it is investigating the incident. The UK government could now suspend arms sales to Israel once it has established the all of the facts of the incident, inside sources have reportedly said.
As well as the mounting Gazan death toll - with more than 32,000 killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry - an unprecedented number of humanitarian workers have been killed in the conflict.
At least 196 aid workers, including 175 members of the UN staff, have now been killed since October 7, according to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the seven victims in the WCK aid convoy 'join a record number of humanitarian workers who have been killed in this particular conflict.'
In a strongly worded statement, US President Joe Biden said Israel 'has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians.'
He called for a 'swift' investigation to bring accountability to what he said was not a 'stand alone incident'.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strike 'unconscionable' but 'an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted'.
'It demonstrates yet again the urgent need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.'
Professor Ben Saul, UN Special Rapporteur on protecting human rights while countering terrorism, suggested that the killing of the WCK workers could be a war crime.
