A former Royal Marine from Penryn has been named as one of three British aid workers killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza.

James ‘Jim’ Henderson, aged 33, died alongside John Chapman, 57, and James Kirby, 47.

The three British men have been hailed as “heroes” amid mounting international condemnation of the attack.

A vigil will take place in Falmouth tonight, remembering Mr Henderson and all others killed in the conflict to date. Read more here: Protest and vigil to be held in Falmouth tonight after death of local aid worker

All three were working for the World Central Kitchen’s security team, and were among seven of its staff killed on Monday night.

Also dying in the attack were the team’s leader, 43-year-old Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, an Australian national, along with American-Canadian dual citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33, Polish national Damian Sobol, 35, and Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25.

It has been reported that Mr Henderson had been travelling in a clearly marked car operated by World Central Kitchen (WCK), a charity providing meals to Palestinians, when the convoy was hit by three missiles fired from an IDF drone.

The convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian food aid taken to Gaza on the maritime route, the charity said.

WCK immediately suspended operations in the region.

Falmouth Packet: The three British aid workers killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza have been hailed as ‘heroes’The three British aid workers killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza have been hailed as ‘heroes’ (Image: Ismael Abu Dayyah/AP)

Neighbours told MailOnline, that Mr Henderson was a former special forces operator and described him as “a lovely lad.”

The Times has reported that he had been due to leave Gaza on Monday.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Henderson had been with the Royal Marines for six years, leaving in 2016 and going to work in personal security jobs.

WCK’s chief executive Erin Gore described the victims as “the heroes of World Central Kitchen”.

Cherilyn Mackrory, MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: “My sincere condolences to the family of Falmouth’s James Henderson, who was one of seven aid workers that sadly died following an airstrike on a food convoy in Gaza. My thoughts are with his loved ones.

“The world is undoubtedly a better place thanks to the efforts of those working with charities like the World Central Kitchen. It is an unacceptable tragedy for James to have passed this way many years before his time.

“I have received assurances from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office that the families of those impacted by this airstrike have been offered full support.

"I understand that the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and other relevant Ministers are pushing for a full, transparent and urgent report from the Israeli Government detailing exactly what happened and an explanation as to how they will make sure this never happens again.”

US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the deaths and said he had spoken to WCK founder Jose Andres.

He said: “This is not a standalone incident. This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed.

“This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult – because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians.”

He also called for a “swift” Israeli investigation into the attack, adding that it “must bring accountability and its findings must be made public”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israeli forces were behind the “unintended strike”.

PA has reported that during a phone call with Mr Netanyahu, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the killings and demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation.

A Downing Street spokesman said last night: “The Prime Minister spoke to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening.

“He said he was appalled by the killing of aid workers, including three British nationals, in an air strike in Gaza yesterday and demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation into what happened.

“The Prime Minister said far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives in Gaza and the situation is increasingly intolerable.

“The UK expects to see immediate action by Israel to end restrictions on humanitarian aid, deconflict with the UN and aid agencies, protect civilians and repair vital infrastructure like hospitals and water networks.

“The Prime Minister reiterated that Israel’s rightful aim of defeating Hamas would not be achieved by allowing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”

Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, chief of the general staff of the Israel Defence Forces, said the incident was “a mistake that followed a misidentification – at night during a war in very complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened”.

He added that an independent body would conduct a “thorough investigation” which is to be completed in the coming days.