The British Palestinian community is mourning the deaths of three members of the same family who drowned off the coast of West Sussex in England, while a fourth family member remains in critical condition in hospital.
The victims were identified as 55-year-old Hossam Al-Khawas, his wife Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara. A younger girl from the same family was taken to hospital in critical condition following the incident, the Palestinian embassy in the UK confirmed.
The family were Palestinian refugees originally from the Rashidieh camp in southern Lebanon, the country's second-largest Palestinian refugee camp, and were British citizens.
The tragedy unfolded at around 3pm on Tuesday at Kingston Beach in Shoreham-by-Sea, after four people were reported to have got into difficulty in the water, according to British media.
The incident prompted a large-scale emergency response, with helicopters and ambulances deployed to the scene, according to reports and images published by the BBC.
Sussex Police confirmed the deaths shortly after 9:30pm, with the Palestinian embassy confirming the identities of the victims in the early hours of Wednesday.
In a statement on X, the embassy said it was "closely monitoring the incident and is making the necessary contacts with the relevant British authorities to ascertain its circumstances and to check on the condition of the injured girl".
"As the embassy extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims' family, their loved ones, and members of the Palestinian community in the United Kingdom in this painful affliction, it wishes the injured girl a speedy recovery," it added.
The deaths have sent shockwaves through Britain's Palestinian community, with several civil society organisations mourning the three members of the Al-Khawas family.
Speaking to The New Arab, Dr Sara Husseini from the British Palestinian Committee said that they were "deeply saddened to hear about the tragic deaths" of the Al-Khawas family.
"Our thoughts and condolences are with their loved ones, and everyone affected by this devastating loss," she said.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) said it extended "its deepest condolences to the family of Hossam Al-Khawas, his wife and daughter, and to the Palestinian community in Britain, especially the people of Rashidieh Camp, Lebanon."
"May [God] have mercy on them and grant strength and patience to their loved ones. We also pray for the swift recovery of their surviving daughter."
In response to the incident, Tom Rutland, the MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, said he was "deeply saddened by the tragic news" and that his "thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives".
"I know the whole community here in Shoreham will be hoping and praying for the recovery of the young girl receiving medical treatment in hospital," he added.
Tributes have poured in for the family from local institutions and residents, while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham sent his "best wishes and love" to the Al-Khawas family's relatives and friends and warned of the dangers of open-water swimming.
Sussex Police said there was no indication of third-party involvement and that the incident was being treated as a tragic accident.