Cameron urges Israeli government to launch independent review of attack

Israel must follow up its initial report into how three British aid workers were killed with “a wholly independent review to ensure the utmost transparency”, Lord David Cameron has said.

The UK will carefully review findings of the initial Israeli Defence Forces’ (IDF) report into the incident released yesterday, the Foreign Secretary added.

Three Britons were among the seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers who died in airstrikes carried out by the IDF on Monday.

They were John Chapman, 57, James “Jim” Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47.

Israeli officials have dismissed two officers over the strikes, which were described as a “grave mistake stemming from a serious failure”.

Three other senior officers were also reprimanded for their roles in the strike, which took place in Gaza.

The attack on the WCK aid convoy has resulted in rebuke from Israel's allies, while MPS from across the political spectrum have questioned whether the UK should continue exporting arms to the Middle Eastern country.

Following the release of the report, Lord Cameron, inset, said: “We are carefully reviewing the initial findings of Israel’s investigations into the killing of WCK aid workers and welcome the suspension of two officers as a first step. These findings must be published in full and followed up with a wholly independent review to ensure the utmost transparency and accountability.” He added: “Lessons must be learnt from today's initial findings from the IDF. “It’s clear major reform of Israel’s deconfliction mechanism is badly needed to ensure the safety of aid workers.

“The deaths of these brave heroes are a tragedy, and this must never happen again.”

Britain's top diplomat to the UN, Barbara Woodward, meanwhile urged Israel to ensure aid workers are not targeted in future. Speaking at the United Nations, the UK’S permanent representative said: “Aid workers should never be targeted. Over 200 have been killed in this conflict.

“Israel must do much more to protect them and to ensure their safety so they can deliver urgently needed life-saving humanitarian assistance.”