welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. israel is facing growing pressure to explain exactly how seven people working for an aid charity were killed in an air strike in gaza. three britons were among those who died in the attack on a world central kitchen convoy. who died in the attack rishi sunak paid trbute tojohn chapman, james henderson and james kirby, describing the deaths as an "awful awful tragedy". more of that interview in a moment, but first james kirby's family described him today as a hero. have a listen. he was completely selfless, which explains why he went to gaza. his experiences in the british army when he served in bosnia and afghanistan, he knew the dangers, he was no fool. and people were telling him, "this could be very dangerous for you." but he knew the dangers. he was selfless in that regard and hejust wanted to help people. the group had been travelling in a clearly marked aid convoy at the time. last night, president biden said he was "outraged and heartbroken" and accused israel of not doing enough to protect aid workers. israel has said the strike was a grave mistake in complex circumstances. from jerusalem, yolande knell reports. seven beautiful souls. that's how world central kitchen says it will remember its colleagues killed by an israeli strike in gaza. they included three british security workers, all ex—armed forces. workers, all ex—armed forces — john chapman, james henderson and james kirby. the team from the us charity was travelling in a convoy. its distinctive logo on display. each car was hit in a precise attack. the uk said these deaths were completely unacceptable. australia's demanded accountability. america called what happened an outrage. israel says it's still investigating. i want to be very clear. the strike was not carried out with the intention of harming wck aid workers. it was a mistake that followed a misidentification at night during a war in a very complex condition. already the impact is being felt by many thousands of hungry gazans who'd been relying on world central kitchen for a daily meal. its operations are now on hold. this suspension will really affect the lives of people and their access to food, especially children and pregnant women. the situation is going to become even more catastrophic. without world central kitchen staff to offload it, some 240 tonnes of desperately needed food sent to gaza on these boats is now being sent back to cyprus. other aid organisations are also having to reconsider their work until there's better protection in the war torn territory. we are devastated and we're worried. we're worried about what this means for the delivery of humanitarian aid. and we have decided to pause our humanitarian operations. we need to have greater security for our staff and for their families. there's been a growing international outcry about the trickle of aid that's getting into gaza because of israeli controls. now deepening concerns about the safety of relief workers is limiting assistance even more, all at a time when famine is looming and gazans most need help. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. there's been more political reaction here in the uk in the last few minutes, let me take you through it, first forth on the former foreign office minister aaron duncan who is joining a growing call for the uk to hold off its arms sale to israel. use... to tackle famine they're caused by israel. as a foreign minister, he writes, who oversaw the process of arms licensing, nothing but continuing to sell arms to israel from the uk cannot be justified and must cease. that is the former foreign office minister aaron duncan. david lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has also issued comments in the last while, saying the government must suspend arms sales to israel, if lawyers have found clear risk of serious breaches of international law. he repeated the demand but david cameron must publish that legal advice, accusing lord cameron of going silent after failing to get a response to that request for that legal advice to be published. those, but is the latest from uk politicians on that call for an arms embargo. so let's continue with that because, as i was saying in our main introduction, the prime minister, rishi sunak, has commented only last little while in the deaths of those three british aid workers and he has been speaking to each political pod cast for the sun newspaper. have a listen. yes, an awful, awful traced , have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy. to — have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy, to think _ have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy, to think that _ have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy, to think that these - have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy, to think that these were l tragedy, to think that these were brave brits who are actually risking their lives to bring aid to people in need in gaza, to have lost their lives in these circumstances is tragedy add my thoughts are obviously with their family and their friends at this time. i spoke to prime minister netanyahu last night and was very clear with him but the situation is increasingly intolerable and what we urgently need to see is a thorough, transparent investigation into what has happened, but also a dramatic increase in the amount of aid getting into gaza, removing the barriers, but also close to work with aid agencies to make sure things like this don't happen again. increasing calls for britain to stop selling _ increasing calls for britain to stop selling arms to israel until that aid starts — selling arms to israel until that aid starts going on. do you back those _ aid starts going on. do you back those calls? i aid starts going on. do you back those calls?— those calls? i think we will also alwa s those calls? i think we will also always have — those calls? i think we will also always have a _ those calls? i think we will also always have a very _ those calls? i think we will also always have a very careful - those calls? i think we will also i always have a very careful export licensing regime that we adhere to, there are a set of rules and regulations and procedures we will also blue always follow and i have been consistently clear with pro—mister netanyahu since the start of this conflict but whilst of course we defend israel's right to defend itself and its people people from attacks from hamas, they have to protect civilian lives and sadly too many civilians have already lost their lives, get more aid into gaza, thatis their lives, get more aid into gaza, that is what we have is consistently called for and what we want to see is an immediate monetary and paused to allow more aid it and crucially hostages to be released and that is what we will be pushing for continually.— what we will be pushing for continually. what we will be pushing for continuall . , . , , ., ., , continually. presumably that was uuite a continually. presumably that was quite a testy _ continually. presumably that was quite a testy phone _ continually. presumably that was quite a testy phone call? - continually. presumably that was quite a testy phone call? what i continually. presumably that was i quite a testy phone call? what has ha--ened quite a testy phone call? what has happened is _ quite a testy phone call? what has happened is a _ quite a testy phone call? what has happened is a tragedy _ quite a testy phone call? what has happened is a tragedy and - quite a testy phone call? what has happened is a tragedy and there i quite a testy phone call? what has. happened is a tragedy and there are questions that need answering and thatis questions that need answering and that is why i have been very clear that is why i have been very clear that what we expect is a thorough and transparent investigation into what has happened, but also i want to see a dramatic increase into the amount of aid flowing into gaza and closer work with aid agencies at these kind of thingsjust closer work with aid agencies at these kind of things just don't happen. these kind of things 'ust don't ha en. ., these kind of things 'ust don't ha . en, ., ., , these kind of things 'ust don't ha en, ., ., , , these kind of things 'ust don't ha en. . ., , ,, . ~' these kind of things 'ust don't hauen. . , ,, ., , happen. that was rishi sunak house s-ueakin in happen. that was rishi sunak house speaking in the _ happen. that was rishi sunak house speaking in the last _ happen. that was rishi sunak house speaking in the last little _ happen. that was rishi sunak house speaking in the last little while. - let's speak to gideon levy, journalist and columnist for the haaretz newspaper. thank you forjoining us live. your colleagues at the newspaper have been reporting on this and important to say it wasn'tjust one strike there was the initial strike on a car, then a second strike on another car, then a second strike on another car and then a third strike. the detail and this is quite disturbing. it is absolutely so. i mean, the claim of israel or the israeli army, that there was no intention, that it was a mistake, that it was by chance, sound quite ridiculous when you realise that it was one shot and those poor aid workers moved from one card to the other in order to save their lives and nothing helped them. they caught them and what about one palestinian who was in those cars finally, but who israel fought is in the car? nobody knows who he was, nobody knows how important he was. altogether it shouldn't surprise anybody because thatis shouldn't surprise anybody because that is the policy of the israeli army in the last half a year in gaza. the fact that this time those internationals, not locals, shouldn't make a such a difference. let me ask you a twin question because america has called for a swift independent investigation. is there any chance of an independent investigation? and also, does this moment feel at all to you like a potential tipping point? we have seen what has happened at the un security council, we have seen gaza flattened, we have seen upwards of 32,000 palestinians killed, warnings about not going into rafah and now this. ., , this. you see, matthew, iwill tell ou, i'm this. you see, matthew, iwill tell you. l'm not _ this. you see, matthew, iwill tell you, i'm not sure _ this. you see, matthew, iwill tell you, i'm not sure an _ this. you see, matthew, iwill tell you, i'm not sure an investigation j you, i'm not sure an investigation is so needed. what do you think you will find out? the only question is who gave the order. it is very clear that those people were killed when their cars were marked very clearly, when there truck was coordinated with the army... i mean, what with the investigation bring us? the name of the commander who gave the order? who cares? it is a policy. late of the commander who gave the order? who cares? it is a policy.— who cares? it is a policy. we have to understand... _ who cares? it is a policy. we have to understand... i— who cares? it is a policy. we have to understand... i suppose - who cares? it is a policy. we have to understand... i suppose an - to understand... i suppose an investigation would establish one way or another whether it was indeed a mistake or something more sinister? ., , ., , .,~ sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars — sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars so _ sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars so signed, _ sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars so signed, you - sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars so signed, you could i sinister? how can it be a mistake l when cars so signed, you could see the logos of the car from the roof, there is a huge sign of the organisation. and you know there are almost 100 journalists being killed in this war. so many medical teams, people with white flags were shot dead. i mean, why do you think this one is an exception in this war? so, but that is my point of view, obviously. for me there is no difference between two weeks of shooting and bombarding al—shifa hospital and this. same case. and when al—shifa hospital was bombed for two weeks, most of the world kept silent. and now because it is internationals, the world is more... i understand it. but this is not the way to judge i understand it. but this is not the way tojudge things, i understand it. but this is not the way to judge things, and investigation will not tell us something that we didn't know. yes. now, to something that we didn't know. yes. now. to your — something that we didn't know. yes. now, to your other _ something that we didn't know. yes. now, to your other question, it depends on the international community. if the international community. if the international community will take measures now so it can be a turning point now. but if, you know, in two days this incident will be forgotten, as i am afraid it will, then you know, the war will continue.— afraid it will, then you know, the war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave _ war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave it _ war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave it there, _ war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave it there, but - war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave it there, but thank . have to leave it there, but thank you forjoining us live here on bbc news, thanks for your time. thank ou. the attack has put huge focus on the amount of aid workers killed in this war. as you were just listening to there. the un secretary general put that figure at 196. in november — a medecins sans frontieres evacuation convoy came underfire in gaza city. the vehicles were marked with msf logos. two members of staff were killed. on january 18th a residential compound housing international members of medical aid for palestinians in al mawasi was hit by a strike — several people were injured, four british doctors survived. the senior british mp alicia kearns posted earlier that there'd still been no explanation for that incident. joining me from ramallah is aseel baidoun, director of advocacy and campaigns at medical aid for palestinians. thank you so much for being here with us on the programme. i will come to some of the issues around your aid agency in a moment, but first a reaction to those seven deaths from the world central kitchen? . deaths from the world central kitchen? , ., . ., , ., , kitchen? this horrific attack proves et a . ain kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that _ kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that there _ kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that there is _ kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that there is no _ kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that there is no safe - yet again that there is no safe place in gaza, way though you are palestinian, british or any nationality. gaza is the most dangerous place in the world how to be an aid worker and we don't have the words to strongly or enough to condemn this. and every other horrific attack on aid workers. we must be protected under international law and we are still, since january 18, calling for swift and independent investigations into this. let and independent investigations into this. .. r' and independent investigations into this. ., ., and independent investigations into this. let me ask about your compound that i mentioned _ this. let me ask about your compound that i mentioned there _ this. let me ask about your compound that i mentioned there in _ that i mentioned there in introduction because none of your shelters was hit in the middle of january, four british doctors survived, but had you given the idf the coordinates of that shelter? definitely so, the compound had been submitted to the d complexion process. and this meant there should be like an added protection. however, it wasn't and the british government has also confirmed that on december 22 that the compound was registered and assessed as a protected site by the israeli army. now, you have asked for an explanation. i put onto the screen what alicia kearns, the senior british mp has also been posting about this. tell me what you have had in response from the israelis. since the attack, various parts of these really military and the government, they have provided explanations. we received six different explanations as to why the air strike took place. these explanations have not provided clarity, so they ranged from the israeli military being unaware of what happened, also denying involvement, as they were not operating in that area. other explanations were accepting response ability for the strike, which was attempting to target a target adjacent to the compound, but the compound is not close to any other building. we also heard an explanation, accepting responsibility for the strike and asserting this was a mistake caused ijy asserting this was a mistake caused by a defective tail fin on the missile that was fired and another explanation was, accepting response ability and advising that what hit the compound was a piece of aircraft fuel edge. the compound was a piece of aircraft fuel edae. ., the compound was a piece of aircraft fuel ede. ., , ., , the compound was a piece of aircraft fuel edae. ., , ., , ., fuel edge. now, the israelis have talked about _ fuel edge. now, the israelis have talked about yesterday's - fuel edge. now, the israelis have | talked about yesterday's incident, talking about the fog of war. the question now being asked is that, is it the fog of war or is there perhaps the potential of israel targeting sites, targeting convoys? what is your view of that? the view is we are still— what is your view of that? the view is we are still uncertain _ what is your view of that? the view is we are still uncertain because - is we are still uncertain because the variety of responses just continued at the lack of transparency, so we just need a clear explanation and we just need a clear explanation and we just need a clear assurance that this will not happen again. and the government, the israeli government was unable or unwilling, i don't know, to properly investigate this incident, so we are just calling for an independent investigation just just calling for an independent investigationjust for just calling for an independent investigation just for us to understand what happened. a, investigation just for us to understand what happened. a final ruick understand what happened. a final quick thought- _ understand what happened. a final quick thought. the _ understand what happened. a final quick thought. the impact, - understand what happened. a final| quick thought. the impact, though, what happened to your organisation on the broader attempts to actually distribute life—saving aid, what impact did it have? it distribute life-saving aid, what impact did it have?— distribute life-saving aid, what impact did it have? it didn't have an im act impact did it have? it didn't have an impact because _ impact did it have? it didn't have an impact because we _ impact did it have? it didn't have an impact because we have - impact did it have? it didn't have i an impact because we have heroes, our colleagues in gaza are heroes and they continued, regardless of this threat of their lives, they continued to do their work and to distribute aid and even our medical missions continued to go into gaza. but really, we are scared of the security concern now that israel has been targeting with full impunity aid workers and health workers. aseel baidoun, thank you so much for joining us live here on today's verified live, thank you. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. you are alive with bbc news. now let's turn to what has been happening in taiwan because we have seen a massive earthquake there. rescuers in taiwan are trying to reach dozens of people trapped after the most powerful earthquake th