Gaza Genocide21 September, 20263 min read
Avon Coroner Grants IDF And Colonel Nochi Mendel Interested Person Status In Gaza Aid Workers Inquest
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Inquest scope expanded to include IDF and commander who ordered the strike. Three British aid workers for World Central Kitchen killed in Gaza on 1 April 2024.
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Inquest scope widens
A pre-inquest review at Avon Coroner's Court in Bristol is set to expand the scope of inquests into the deaths of three British aid workers killed by a drone strike in Gaza on 1 April 2024, with senior coroner Maria Voisin confirming she was "minded to grant" the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Colonel Nochi Mendel "interested person" status. Alison Hewitt, counsel to the inquest, told the hearing that the background facts include "recognition that the deaths resulted from strikes ordered by or on behalf of Israeli Defense Forces" and "specifically by Colonel Mendel," as Voisin replied "yes" to whether she was minded to grant the status. The BBC said the IDF began an internal investigation days after the deaths and described the killing of WCK staff as a "grave accident," while the review's findings were published on 5 April 2024 alongside an admission of "serious failure" and the dismissal of an IDF colonel and major.
The inquest process also considered whether Voisin would grant interested person status to the family of Australian national Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, 43, and she said the whole process was going to be "kept under review" before the court could hear evidence and reach conclusions. The hearing heard that submissions also sought interested person status for the Ministry of Defence and defence technology company Elbit Systems, and it was unclear how long the inquests could take as Voisin said she was unable to set a date for the full hearing.
Families press for answers
The Kirby family said the coroner told them that Colonel Mendel, the Israeli military and the Israeli government are going to be made interested persons in the inquest, and the family said they also have questions for the British government. The Kirby family said: "An RAF surveillance plane was flying over Gaza on the day James died," and they added that the Ministry of Defence has the footage from that flight but "will not tell us whether it shows the area where the convoy was hit." Pete Weatherby KC, representing the Henderson family, argued that it was a "matter of public concern and great importance" to know whether the drone and munitions used were made in the UK.
Neil Henderson said he hoped the coroner would carry out a thorough investigation into the attack that killed Jim and the others, including "an exploration of all the issues relevant to his death" and what role UK authorities or military equipment originating from the UK may have played. Tayab Ali, representing the Kirby family, said it was "crucial that information is provided by the Israeli authorities including the IDF and MoD there," adding that it was the only way to get to the bottom of how and why James was killed.
Military roles and next steps
The Guardian reported that the inquest may call on Israeli and UK military chiefs to give evidence, and it said the scope could examine whether the weaponry that killed the men was made in the UK. Maria Voisin indicated she was "minded" to designate the IDF and Nochi Mendel as "interested parties" for the inquest, and she said she was open minded about which issues the inquest would consider while keeping some under review. The Guardian said the families want to know what surveillance the Royal Air Force surveillance plane gathered about the convoy and what was shared with Israeli authorities, and it described the plane as spending about five hours above Gaza on the day of the attack.
The Guardian reported that Israeli military authorities said they would not open criminal investigations into the strike, and it said that decision, along with the three Britons and other deaths, drew condemnation from the UK, Australian and Canadian governments described as "shameful". A further pre-inquest review was listed for 5 April, 2027, while the BBC said the coroner was unable to set a date for the full hearing because there may be further parties to be granted interested person status.