The family of a British aid worker killed in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza is demanding the UK government release surveillance footage captured by a Royal Air Force (RAF) spy plane flying over the area at the time. James Kirby, 47, was working with World Central Kitchen when he and six others, including two other British veterans, were killed in a targeted strike last April.
Family Accuses UK Government of Withholding Key Evidence
James Kirby’s relatives have accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of blocking access to crucial footage recorded by an RAF surveillance aircraft operating over Gaza on the day of the fatal attack. The MoD confirmed it holds video material but refused to share it, citing national security concerns.
“I want to know who made the decision not to make it public and why,” said Kirby’s mother, Jacqui Kirby, in an interview with The Times. His cousin Adam Maguire added, “What justification do they have? It’s not going to impact events in Gaza or the Israeli government.”
RAF Conducted Hundreds of Surveillance Flights Over Gaza
According to official figures, the UK conducted 645 reconnaissance missions over Gaza between December 2023 and November 2024—an average of nearly two per day. Despite this, ministers have provided little information on what the RAF has witnessed or documented.
Independent MP Shockat Adam questioned the transparency of these operations during a parliamentary debate, asking, “What crimes, if any, have we seen?”
The government has maintained that RAF flights are unarmed and only intended to aid hostage recovery. An MoD spokesperson said intelligence is only shared with Israel if it aligns with international humanitarian law.
Family Calls Israeli Investigation a ‘Whitewash’
The Israeli government initially described the killings as a tragic error, later dismissing two officers and reprimanding two senior commanders. However, the Kirby family has rejected the findings as insufficient and is calling for an independent inquiry into the incident.
“The military’s investigation is a whitewash,” Maguire said. “We’d consider suing Israel—not for compensation, but as a deterrent to prevent future attacks on aid workers.”
UK Foreign Secretary Criticised for ‘Insensitive’ Response
Jacqui Kirby also criticised UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy for his handling of the case, saying he failed to recognise her during a meeting with families of the victims. “He hadn’t even done his homework to find out who each individual is,” she said.
The Foreign Office responded, saying it is pressing Israel to conclude its investigation swiftly and to ensure measures are in place to protect aid workers.
