UK Coroner Considers Expanding Inquest into Gaza Aid Workers' Deaths

An inquest in the United Kingdom into the deaths of three British aid workers—James Kirby, John Chapman and James Henderson—who were killed when an Israeli drone struck a convoy in the Gaza Strip on April 1, 2024, may be expanded to include the Israel Defence Forces and Colonel Nochi Mendel, who is alleged to have ordered the strike. During a pre-inquest hearing at Avon Coroner's Court, senior coroner Maria Voisin signaled her intention to grant "interested person" status to both the IDF and the colonel, as well as to the family of Australian colleague Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom.

This status would give them legal rights to take part in the hearing, see the evidence and submit their own testimony. Counsel Alison Hewitt also requested that the inquiry examine how the British workers came to be in Gaza, the risk assessments, policies and procedures of World Central Kitchen, and the steps taken by the Israeli military and Ministry of Defence to protect humanitarian personnel. The expanded scope could also explore the coordination between the IDF and World Central Kitchen and what information the military had before the April 1 strike.