The British government has confirmed that it is continuing Royal Air Force (RAF) surveillance flights over the Gaza Strip to assist Israel in locating hostages held by Hamas.
According to a report in The Times, British reconnaissance operations began at the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and have been ongoing ever since. The aircraft have been flying from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, although the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not disclosed which specific planes are currently in use.
Flight tracking data has shown that Shadow R1 aircraft, which is highly specialised in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, has conducted hundreds of missions over Gaza in recent months. However, the aircraft are no longer stationed in Cyprus and have since returned to the UK.
A military source told The Times that although the Shadow R1s are no longer deployed, the missions themselves are “still ongoing.”
The MoD has insisted that the RAF’s role is limited to intelligence gathering that may assist in locating the remaining hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. It added that it is not sharing targeting data or providing any form of direct military assistance to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
The continuation of the surveillance flights comes amid weakening relations between London and Tel Aviv following recent statements by the Labour government.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly informed his cabinet that the UK will formally recognise a Palestinian state in September if Israel fails to take “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.”
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In May, Foreign Secretary David Lammy had warned that Britain’s support for Israel was “not unconditional,” and called for a ceasefire, increased humanitarian access, and a credible path toward a two-state solution.
Despite the growing political pressure and widespread criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, British military cooperation with Israel remains intact through continued aerial surveillance operations, raising concerns among human rights groups and legal observers.
