‘Heartbroken’ and ‘devastated’ families of UK aid workers killed by Israel pay tribute

Published

1 month ago

April 3, 2024

admin

The family of British aid worker James Kirby, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza, say they are “utterly heartbroken” by his death – while the relatives of John Chapman say he was “subject to an inhumane act”.

Three British workers were killed in Gaza by the airstrike – in what the IDF has called a “grave mistake”.

John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby – who were providing security for World Central Kitchen aid workers – were among seven people from the charity who died after a convoy they were travelling in was hit.

Middle East latest: Israel admits ‘mistake’

A statement released by Mr Kirby’s family said: “As a family, we are utterly heartbroken by the loss of our beloved James.

“Alongside the other six individuals who tragically lost their lives, he will be remembered as a hero.

“James understood the dangers of venturing into Gaza, drawing from his experiences in the British Armed Forces, where he bravely served tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan.

“Despite the risks, his compassionate nature drove him to offer assistance to those in dire need.

“A genuine gentleman, James was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone, even in the face of senseless violence.

“We kindly request privacy during this incredibly difficult time as we mourn the loss of our dear James.”

And Mr Chapman’s family said: “We are devastated to have lost John, who was killed in Gaza. He died trying to help people and was subject to an inhumane act. He was an incredible father, husband, son and brother.

“We request we be given space and time to grieve appropriately.

“He was loved by many and will forever be a hero. He will be missed dearly”.

Australian Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom also died in the attack – along with Palestinian national Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, Damian Sobol from Poland, and dual US-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger.

The three British nationals were part of the charity workers’ security team.

Sunak’s call to Netanyahu

Meanwhile, the prime minister has revealed he told Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu the situation in the region was “increasingly intolerable”.

Mr Sunak told The Sun: “I spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu last night and was very clear with him that the situation is increasingly intolerable and what we urgently need to see is a transparent investigation into what has happened, but also a dramatic increase in the amount of aid getting into Gaza – removing the barriers – but also closer work with aid agencies to make sure things like this don’t happen again.”

Speaking from Brussels as he attended a NATO meeting, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said he had sent “condolences” to the families of the victims, and “our thoughts should be with them”.

He added: “I welcome what the Israeli foreign minister said yesterday to me about a full, urgent and transparent inquiry into how this dreadful event was allowed to happen, and we want to see that happen very quickly.”

Following the tragedy, the Liberal Democrats have called for the UK to suspend its arms deals with Israel.

UK

Starmer would halt Rwanda flights immediately under Labour government

Published

4 hours ago

May 10, 2024

admin

Starmer would halt Rwanda flights immediately under Labour government

No deportation flights to Rwanda will take off under a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News.

The Labour leader told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby “there’ll be no flights” as he wants to “scrap the scheme”, which aims to send asylum seekers entering the UK illegally from a safe country, such as France, to Rwanda.

Earlier in the day Sir Keir confirmed Labour wanted to get rid of the Conservatives’ flagship scheme to reduce illegal immigration but a party spokesman said they would not stop flights already planned.

Follow latest:
Starmer sets out small boats plan

But Sir Keir told Sky News: “There’ll be no flights. I want to scrap the scheme so that means the flights won’t be going.

“There will be no flights scheduled or taking off after the general election if Labour wins that general election.

“No flights, no Rwanda scheme, it’s a gimmick, it’s very expensive, it won’t work.”

Sir Keir earlier announced his plan to tackle small boat crossings, which also included a new Border Security Command with “hundreds of specialist investigators”, new counter-terrorism powers to target people smugglers, hopes for a new Europol partnership and a rules-based asylum system.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called Sir Keir’s plan “rank hypocrisy” and said everything the Labour leader announced today “are all things that we’re already doing”.

“Punching through the backlog, having more law enforcement officers do more, that’s all happening already,” he said.

“We’ve announced all of that more than a year ago. The question for Keir Starmer if he cares so much about that, why did he vote against the new laws that we passed to give our law enforcement officers new powers?

“They’ve now used those to arrest almost 8,000 people connected with illegal migration, sentenced them to hundreds of years in prison.

“And if it was up to him, all those people would be out on our streets so I think it’s rank hypocrisy of his position.”

Analysis:
Ruthless Starmer has spoiled Sunak’s moment

👉 Listen above then tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Sir Keir revealed Labour’s plan at a speech in Dover alongside his newest MP, Natalie Elphicke, who defected from the Conservatives.

Her defection has been met with outrage by some Labour MPs as she was seen to be on the right of the Tory Party, especially with her views on immigration.

She also faced criticism for supporting her ex-husband, former Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, after he was convicted of sexually assaulting two women. She has now apologised for supporting him.

Sir Keir said accepting Mrs Elphicke into the party shows it has changed and shows how the Conservatives are “no longer the party that can take our country forward”.

Asked if he was ruthless, he said: “Yes, I’m ruthless in trying to ensure we have a Labour government who can change this country for the better.

“Not ruthless for my own ambition, not ruthlessness particularly for the Labour Party.

“I’m ruthless for the country.”

He added that the only way to bring about change in the UK is “if we’re ruthless about winning the general election and putting in place a government of public service”.

Ruthless Starmer spoils Sunak’s moment

“I am ruthless.”

That was Sir Keir Starmer’s account of himself and his decision to let Natalie Elphicke into the Labour Party on our trip to Dover on Friday to unveil his plan to stop the small boats. Because for all the controversy her arrival on the Labour benches caused this week, for Sir Keir it was worth it.

It allowed him to take the fight on migration directly to the frontline, Dover, and stand next to the now Labour MP, Ms Elphicke, telling the cameras that Mr Sunak had “failed to keep the borders secure” and “can’t be trusted”.

As a piece of political theatre, it was ruthless. And the timing was ruthless too, coming on the day the UK had come out of recession.

Rishi Sunak had wanted the television bulletins to lead on turning the economic corner and “sticking with the plan”.

That’s not what he got.

Read Beth Rigby’s analysis after her interview with Sir Keir Starmer in full.

The latest polling, carried out by Survation and published on 9 May, has Labour winning the next general election with a landslide victory of 486 seats – 45% of the vote, with the Tories 19 points behind on 26%.

Taking an average of the most recent polls from each major pollster, Labour is set to win with 43.5% of the vote, with the Tories taking 23.5% and the Liberal Democrats 9.7%.

Sir Keir said he does not know if he can win a majority but he hopes so.

In May 2023 he ruled out any sort of deal with the SNP if he did not win a majority but would not rule out a deal with the Liberal Democrats.

On Friday he said: “I’m ruling out any sort of deal with the SNP before or after the election.

“Am I going for a majority Labour government? Yes, I am.

“That depends on whether we can earn the trust and confidence of voters across the country.”

When pushed on whether he would do a deal with the Lib Dems, he again refused to rule it out, saying: “I’m going for a majority.

“That’s the answer I gave you two years, a year ago, it’s the same answer I gave you then.”

UK

Sharon Beshenivsky: Piran Ditta Khan jailed for life for murdering police officer

Published

5 hours ago

May 10, 2024

admin

Sharon Beshenivsky: Piran Ditta Khan jailed for life for murdering police officer

The mastermind of an armed robbery in which PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead in 2005 has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 40 years.

Piran Ditta Khan, 75, was last month found guilty of murdering the West Yorkshire Police officer, who was shot at point-blank range at Universal Express travel agent in Morley Street, Bradford.

Prosecutors said that although Khan was not one of the three smartly dressed men who carried out the raid, he had played a “pivotal” role and was guilty of murder “as surely as if he pulled the trigger on that pistol himself”.

PC Beshenivsky, 38 – who had only been a police officer for nine months – and colleague PC Teresa Milburn, then 37, were both unarmed when they responded to an alarm call and were shot in the chest on 18 November 2005.

PC Beshenivsky collapsed to the floor with an immediately fatal injury, while PC Milburn survived after radioing for help while she was on the pavement coughing up blood.

Khan fled to Pakistan three months after the shooting and evaded arrest for 15 years until he was detained by Pakistani authorities in 2020 and extradited to the UK last year.

He pleaded guilty to robbery and was found guilty of murder, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, handed him a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years today, telling Khan he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

He told Khan he was sure he had the idea of robbing the travel agency, and “intended that the weapons should be used to kill if necessary to do so”, adding that he was part of a “planned enterprise” and shared “murderous intent”.

He praised PC Beshenivsky for responding to the call “when she and her colleague had no way of knowing what they would be confronted with when they got there”.

“Pc Sharon Beshenivsky’s courage and commitment to duty that day cost her life,” he said.

Khan, wearing a blue tracksuit and listening to his interpreter, had his head down as he was sentenced.

He is the last of the seven men involved in the raid to be tried – Mustaf Jama, Yusuf Jama and Muzzaker Shah are serving life sentences with minimum 35-year terms after being found guilty of murder, robbery and firearms offences in 2006 and 2007.

‘A hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice’

PC Beshenivsky had three children and was stepmother to her husband Paul Beshenivsky’s two children from a previous relationship. Her widow and children watched as Khan was sentenced.

The court heard she was nearing the end of her shift and talked about how she was looking forward to her youngest daughter Lydia’s fourth birthday party moments before volunteering for the fatal call.

In a victim personal statement read at court, Lydia praised her mother as “a hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice”.

Lydia said she was “too young and innocent” to understand what happened and was told she “screamed her head off” after being told that her mother had died, although she has no memory of it.

Read more: How fatal robbery unfolded

She said she was proud of her mother for “doing the job she loved”, adding: “There will always be a void in my life – a void that should have been filled with my mum’s presence but as a result of violent, callous actions by you, Piran Ditta Khan, and your associates that day, you robbed me of a future and precious time with my mum.

“Every birthday is a reminder of what happened that day. It has recently been Mother’s Day, and while my friends are celebrating with their mums, I sadly can never do that.”

Paul Beshenivsky, who had been married to PC Beshenivsky for four years when she died, said telling the children what had happened was “the hardest thing I have ever had to do”.

“The way we lost Sharon was in the most brutal, callous and futile way,” he said in a statement.

“If Piran Ditta Khan had never organised the robbery, Sharon would never have been shot dead and she would have come home that day.”

Botched robbery

Khan was the only member of the group who was familiar with the travel agency and had previously used them to send money to family in Pakistan, the court heard.

At his trial, Khan told the jury the owner owed him £12,000 and thought the men sent to recover the money would only “intimidate” the staff.

Three men went into the travel agency, posing as customers before jumping over the counter and demanding money.

They struck several staff members with their weapons, tied their hands and threatened to “shoot the youngest” if they were not given cash.

The men initially demanded £100,000 before stating they wouldn’t leave without £50,000 and the business owner’s son managed to press an alarm which alerted police.

When PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn arrived on the scene, the robbers shouted “the feds are here” and fled with around £5,400 after one of them gunned down the officers.

The court heard Khan, who had told his accomplices they would make between £50,000 to £100,000, did not leave the safety of the Mercedes SLK used as the lookout car.

PC Milburn said in a statement she and her colleague “didn’t have a chance” and described PC Beshenivsky “stopping in terror” as she approached the door of Universal Express and saw the gunman.

She was the seventh serving female officer ever to be killed in the line of duty in Britain and left behind her husband Paul, three children and two stepchildren.

‘A journey seeking truth and justice’

In a statement, her family said 18 November 2005 “is a date that will remain etched in our memories forever” and was the start of an almost 19-year journey”.

“A journey seeking the truth and justice for Sharon, who was not just a police officer, but a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, and a friend to many,” they said.

“Our journey seeking justice and closure of the judicial process is now at an end. This journey has and continues to be difficult for us all.”

The statement added: “No prison sentence could ever compensate us for Sharon’s life and our loss, but we will move forward knowing that justice has been served.

West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Twiggs added: “For 18 years we have never given up on getting justice for Sharon and Teresa, and today their families have received that justice.

“Sharon was murdered in the line of duty, in what was a totally unnecessary act. Sharon was doing her job and protecting the public.”

UK

Kate ‘doing well’, says Prince William in update after her cancer diagnosis

Published

7 hours ago

May 10, 2024

admin

Kate 'doing well', says Prince William in update after her cancer diagnosis

Kate is “doing well” following her cancer diagnosis, Prince William has said.

The heir to the throne gave the update on his wife’s health on his first visit to the Isles of Scilly since becoming the Duke of Cornwall.

Tracy Smith, administrator at St Mary’s Community Hospital in Hugh Town, greeted William when he arrived and hosted his tour of the small medical centre following his visit to the harbour where he bought his entourage Cornish pasties.

Ms Smith said: “I asked William about his wife Kate and he said, ‘she’s doing well, thanks,’ and I suggested they might like to come for a visit and bring the children.”

William told her: “The children are very jealous that I am here… Maybe we might come later in the year.”

He was given a card for his father the King – also a cancer patient – and Kate by Matron Lynda McHale, who said: “It was a card from my granddaughter who wanted to wish his father and wife ‘get well soon’.”

Kate revealed she was undergoing cancer treatment in a video statement in March.

The Duchess of Cornwall said of her diagnosis at the time: “This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.

“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.

“But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”

As the duke, William receives an income from the Duchy of Cornwall – a portfolio of land, property and investments – which owns much of the Isles of Scilly and nearly a third of residential buildings.

During his visit to the archipelago, the prince treated his staff to a round of Cornish pasties from the harbour cafe.