Family of UK aid worker killed in Gaza calls for new probe

LONDON, Sept 04 (AFP): The family of a British aid worker killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza in April on Wednesday called for an independent investigation into his death.

James Kirby, from Bristol in southwest England, was one of seven people killed in a strike on a World Central Kitchen food convoy.

The deaths drew the ire of world leaders and Israel called the strike a "grave mistake".

Former serviceman Kirby and two other Britons killed were part of the security team accompanying aid workers employed by the US-based charity.

Speaking on behalf of his family ahead of a memorial service for Kirby, his cousin Louise Kirby called for a "proper, independent inquiry into this attack on innocent aid workers".

"Whilst we have had much support, we are still struggling to find answers and accountability for what happened," she said in a statement Wednesday.

Kirby said the family was "surprised" that they had not had any contact from Israel's ambassador to the UK or any Israeli official.

"Any family of a loved one who has been killed needs closure. We need to understand how this disaster could have happened," she said.

"But this is not just about us. This is about how Britain looks after its own citizens and their families, when a British citizen has been unlawfully killed by another state."

A UK government spokesperson said that "the death of James and his fellow aid workers was horrific and our thoughts remain with their families".

"Israel must guarantee the protection of aid workers, and ensure a tragedy like this cannot happen again," the spokesperson added.

Greta Thunberg and a group of activists were arrested on Wednesday after occupying a University of Copenhagen building to call for an academic boycott of Israeli universities, Danish media reported.

Images on daily Ekstrabladet showed the 21-year-old climate activist, wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh shawl draped over her shoulders, being escorted out of a campus building by police.

Thunberg meanwhile shared images on Instagram of riot police entering a building where the group "Students against the Occupation" were staging a protest.

"I can't confirm the names of those arrested, but six people have been arrested in connection with the demonstration," a Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP.