UK media united in outrage at Israeli aid worker drone strikes
John Chapman (l), James Kirby (c) and James Henderson (r) were killed in Israeli drone strikes on 1 April 2024
The front pages of British newspapers on 3 April 2024
Oscar Rickett reports in Middle East Eye on 3 April 2024:
The front pages of every major UK newspaper on Wednesday carried condemnation and outrage at the Israeli air strikes on Monday that killed seven aid workers, three of whom were British forces veterans. James Henderson, 33, John Chapman, 57, and James Kirby, 47, were in Gaza as part of the charity World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) security team. All three worked for the security company Solace Global, based in Poole, Dorset, on England’s south coast.
Henderson was a former British marine; Chapman had been part of the British navy’s elite Special Boat Service (SBS) unit and Kirby was also an army veteran.
The death of three veterans of the armed forces in three targeted Israeli air strikes – which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said were “unintentional” – has united the British press in outrage for the first time since Israel’s war on Gaza began after the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October.
The coverage marks one of the worst days Israel has ever had in Britain in terms of public relations. On Wednesday the death toll from Israel’s operations in Gaza rose to 32,972.
British newspapers across from across the political spectrum ran with the story on their front pages. “Killed trying to feed starving kids”, said the Daily Mirror under the banner “Gaza aid workers horror”. “Brits are among the victims of merciless Israeli drone strike,” the left-of-centre tabloid reported.
The usually staunchly pro-Israel right-wing tabloids were just as aghast. “Three Britons killed on Gaza mercy mission,” said the Daily Express. The Daily Mail’s front page was: “Three UK forces veterans killed by Israeli strike.”
The Sun, owned by the Murdoch family’s News UK group, went with: “SBS hero killed in Gaza air strike.” The tabloid reported: “SBS hero John Chapman and former marine James Henderson were travelling in a clearly-marked car, operated by charity World Central Kitchen, when the convoy was struck with three missiles fired by an IDF [Israeli army] drone.”
The front page of another News UK paper, the Times, ran: “Outcry at aid worker deaths.” The paper reported that Henderson had arrived in Gaza to work with WCK on 27 March and was due to leave the Palestinian enclave on Monday.