A coroner overseeing an inquest into the deaths of three British aid workers in Gaza has indicated the investigation may be significantly broadened beyond its original scope. The workers—John Chapman, Jim Henderson, and James Kirby—were killed when aid vehicles they occupied were struck by an airstrike that also claimed the lives of four additional international aid workers.
During a pre-inquest review, the senior coroner signaled her intention to designate the Israel Defense Forces and the colonel who ordered the strikes as “interested parties” in the proceeding. Previously, the inquiry had focused primarily on the aid organization operating the convoy and its security contractor. The potential expansion would allow examination of the Israeli military’s role in the incident. Israeli military authorities declined to open criminal investigations into the strike, a decision that drew criticism from the UK, Australian, and Canadian governments.
The families’ legal representatives have sought to broaden the investigation further, drawing parallels to a previous high court ruling regarding a fatal attack in Salisbury. They are pushing for examination of whether the British military played any role in the incident and whether UK surveillance assets monitored the convoy before the airstrike. A Royal Air Force surveillance plane was positioned over Gaza for approximately five hours on the day of the attack, according to submissions made to the court.
Another focal point of the inquiry will be whether weaponry used in the strike originated from the UK, an issue the families have identified as important to understanding the circumstances of the deaths. Legal representatives indicated that attempts may be necessary to pressure UK officials to encourage Israeli cooperation with the investigation. The inquiry is also expected to extend to the UK Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence, and Israeli defence manufacturer Elbit Systems.
A subsequent pre-inquest review is scheduled for March, with no final hearing date currently set.
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