CITIZENS NEWS

UK fails to condemn Israeli airstrike that killed British charity workers and journalists in Gaza

By isabelle // 2025-03-17

• Israeli airstrikes killed nine in Gaza, including three journalists and aid workers from a UK charity, sparking widespread condemnation.
• The UK Foreign Office refused to denounce the attack, drawing criticism for its silence.
• The Al-Khair Foundation confirmed its team was targeted while setting up tents for displaced Palestinians.
• Hamas condemned the strike as a "horrific massacre" and a violation of international law.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least nine people in northern Gaza on Saturday, including three journalists and aid workers affiliated with a British charity. The attack, which targeted a humanitarian team setting up tents for displaced Palestinians, has drawn widespread condemnation—but not from the UK Foreign Office, which has refused to denounce the strike. The incident underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and raises questions about Israel’s adherence to international law and the UK’s moral stance on the conflict. The strike occurred in Beit Lahia, where volunteers from the UK-based Al-Khair Foundation were working to provide shelter for displaced families. Among the dead were eight charity workers and three journalists documenting their efforts. The Israeli military claimed it targeted “terrorists” operating a drone, but the charity and witnesses have vehemently denied these allegations, calling the attack a “flagrant violation of international law.”

Aid workers targeted in "horrific massacre"

The Al-Khair Foundation, a UK-registered charity, confirmed that its team was struck while setting up tents for displaced Palestinians. Qasim Rashid Ahmad, the charity’s founder, told the BBC that the attack unfolded in two stages: first, a strike hit cameramen returning to their vehicle, and moments later, an Israeli drone targeted team members who rushed to the scene. “Today sadly another attack has taken place on aid workers while delivering aid,” Ahmad said in a statement. Some of the victims, he said, "were our team members, including volunteers, some of them were cameramen… and some of them were journalists.” The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate identified the journalists killed as video editor Bilal Abu Matar and cameramen Mahmoud al-Sarraj, Bilal Aqila, and Mahmoud Asleem. The organization accused Israel of “systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists, who risk their lives to report the truth and expose Israeli crimes to the world.” Hamas condemned the attack as a “horrific massacre” and a “blatant violation” of international law. Ismail Thawabta, Director General of Hamas’ Government Media Office, said the strike targeted “unarmed civilians, especially those providing humanitarian aid to displaced and homeless individuals.”

UK’s silence sparks outrage

The UK Foreign Office’s refusal to condemn the attack has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and lawmakers. When asked by Middle East Eye whether it would denounce the strike, a Foreign Office spokesperson offered a tepid response, emphasizing the need to protect civilians but stopping short of assigning blame. “It is deeply saddening to hear of further loss of life in Gaza,” the spokesperson said. “The UK wants to see the ceasefire continue. This deal remains fragile, and we must build confidence on all sides to sustain the ceasefire and move it from phase 1 through to phase 3, and into a lasting peace.” Wajid Akhter, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, called the UK’s silence “morally indefensible.” He said, “Israel’s allies have a moral obligation to acknowledge these atrocities and take decisive action to ensure such grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to an end.” Independent MP Shockat Adam, whose Leicester South constituency includes the Al-Khair Foundation’s offices, expressed his condolences and vowed to push for an independent investigation. “I will be personally contacting the charity and writing to the minister to demand an independent and transparent investigation into the facts,” he said. The attack comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which has been in place since January. While the ceasefire has reduced casualties, Israeli military operations have continued, often justified as responses to perceived threats. Saturday’s strike, the deadliest since the truce began, has further strained the already precarious peace process. The US has proposed a month-long extension of the ceasefire, which would include the release of hostages held by Hamas and an easing of Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, Hamas has demanded immediate talks on a permanent ceasefire, a condition Israel has rejected. The killing of aid workers and journalists in Gaza is a grim reminder of the human cost of Israel’s military campaign, which has claimed over 48,300 lives since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The UK’s refusal to condemn the attack raises troubling questions about its commitment to upholding international law and protecting humanitarian efforts.     Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net CNN.com BBC.com

Israel violence genocide charity chaos dangerous air strikes ceasefire WWIII Gaza