Arms sales call after deadly attack

SALES of arms to Israel must be reviewed following the drone attack that killed three British aid workers, Rishi Sunak said yesterday.

- Michael Knowles

Military veterans John Chapman, 57, James Henderson, 33 and James Kirby, 47, died while working with charity World Central Kitchen in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.

And now the Prime Minister is under growing pressure to act after what some military experts described as a "deliberate" strike.

Senior Tory and Labour politicians, as well as a former national security adviser, urged Mr Sunak to "reassess our supply of weaponry" - amid fears British weapons may have been used in Monday's atrocity.

One branded the response to the killings from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu "shamefully inadequate".

Mr Sunak stopped short of revoking arms licences to Israel.

He said: "We've always had a very careful export licensing regime that we adhere to. There are a set of rules regulations and procedures that we'll always follow.

"And I've been consistently clear with Prime Minister Netanyahu since the start of this conflict that - whilst of course we defend Israel's right to defend itself and it's people against attacks from Hamas - they have to do that in accordance with humanitarian law, protect civilian lives, get more aid into Gaza.

"What we want to see is an immediate humanitarian to allow more pause aid in and crucially for more hostages to also be released."

He added: "What's happened is a tragedy and it shouldn't have happened. And there are questions need answering.