Brother of British aid worker killed in Israeli strike slams UK government inaction

This photo provided by World Central Kitchen/WCK.org, shows James Henderson of Britain, one of seven aid workers who were killed in Gaza on Apr. 1, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 05 April 2024
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Brother of British aid worker killed in Israeli strike slams UK government inaction

  • ‘I don’t believe our government will hold the correct people to account’
  • Ex-Royal Marine James Henderson, 33, was killed on Monday by drone attack

LONDON: The brother of one of the British aid workers killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza has condemned the UK government’s reluctance to respond to the killings.
Former Royal Marine James Henderson, 33, was killed alongside two other security personnel on Monday by an Israel Defense Forces drone strike.
Henderson’s brother, speaking to The Times anonymously, said the UK government’s inaction following the killing is “hard to comprehend.”
He added: “Accountability is the only hope of justice I have … I don’t believe our government will hold the correct people to account, but I guarantee that our government will sell weapons to Israel, which may in turn be used to kill our fellow citizens.
“I feel this is inexcusable behavior, to kill my brother and his colleagues on a humanitarian mission.
“Our thoughts are with the suffering people who have been deprived of basic humanitarian needs. It’s unacceptable for our world leaders to ignore this gross miscarriage of justice.”
In the wake of the killing, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for a “thorough and transparent independent investigation,” but is facing growing political pressure to take direct action against Israel.
Henderson was killed alongside British veterans John Chapman, 57, and James Kirby, 47, as they worked in a security detail for the World Central Kitchen aid convoy. Seven aid workers, including the three security personnel, were killed in the attack.
The US nonprofit’s founder Jose Andres has accused Israel of targeting the humanitarian staff “systematically, car by car.”
He added: “It was really a direct attack on clearly marked vehicles whose movements were known by everybody at the IDF.”

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Pope Leo XIV calls for global truce on Christmas Day

Updated 4 sec ago
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Pope Leo XIV calls for global truce on Christmas Day

  • Pope Leo expressed “great sadness” that “apparently Russia rejected a request” for truce

CASTEL GANDOLFO: Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday called for a global truce on Christmas Day, expressing “great sadness” that “apparently Russia rejected a request” for one.
“I am renewing my request to all people of good will to respect a day of peace — at least on the feast of the birth of our Savior,” Leo told reporters at his residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire saying it would only give a military advantage to Ukraine.
“Among the things that cause me great sadness is the fact that Russia has apparently rejected a request for a truce,” the pope said.
Referring to conflicts in general, Leo said: “I hope they will listen and there will be 24 hours of peace in the whole world,” he added.
Ukraine on Tuesday pulled out troops from a town in the east of the country after fierce battles with Russian forces as relentless strikes by Moscow killed three civilians and cut power to thousands in freezing winter temperatures.
There was no sign of an imminent breakthrough after top negotiators from both Russia and Ukraine were in Miami last weekend for separate meetings with US officials seeking a deal to end almost four years of fighting.
Pope Leo met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month.
Asked if he would accept Zelensky’s invitation to visit Ukraine, Leo later said “I hope so,” but cautioned it was not possible to say when such a trip would be possible.
He also said that seeking peace in Ukraine without European diplomatic involvement was “unrealistic” and warned US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan risked a “huge change” in the transatlantic alliance.