Britain has quietly halted its surveillance flights over Gaza following the release of Israeli hostages – finally putting an end to over 500 secretive missions carried out since late 2023.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the decision on Thursday, saying the flights had “achieved their purpose” and were “tasked solely with locating hostages.”
But campaigners and MPs say the operation has raised serious questions about Britain’s role in the Gaza genocide.
According to data obtained by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) for Declassified UK, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has flown at least 518 surveillance missions over or near Gaza since December 2023.
The aircraft, known as Shadow R1s, were operated by 14 Squadron from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
The squadron, previously nicknamed the “Crusader Squadron,” specialises in electronic surveillance and battlefield intelligence.
Flights continued for over 15 months under both Conservative and Labour governments.
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Around 303 missions were authorised under Rishi Sunak and 215 under Keir Starmer. Some months saw as many as 49 flights, each lasting up to seven hours.
The MoD insists the aircraft were “always unarmed” and “played no combat role.” However, flight data shows that British missions frequently coincided with major Israeli attacks that killed hundreds of civilians.
In June 2024, for instance, the RAF conducted 24 sorties in the two weeks leading up to Israel’s deadly assault on the Nuseirat refugee camp, which killed at least 274 Palestinians.
Four Israeli hostages were rescued during that operation, but it remains unclear whether British intelligence was used.
A similar pattern emerged in February 2024, when the RAF flew 15 surveillance missions before Israel’s attack on Rafah that killed at least 67 people.
Government secrecy
The UK government has faced repeated calls to explain the true purpose of these flights. But ministers have refused to disclose details, citing “operational security.”
Former MP Kenny MacAskill asked whether RAF reconnaissance flights had recorded evidence of mass graves in Gaza’s hospitals. The MoD replied that all flights were “solely to locate hostages.”
In another case, Independent MP Imran Hussain requested information on the missions’ cost and codename but was met with the same blanket refusal.
Critics argue that this secrecy shields Britain from scrutiny and potential accountability under international law.
Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens accused the UK of “active participation in, and enabling of, genocide.”
Israel is currently facing genocide proceedings at the International Court of Justice and war crimes charges at the International Criminal Court.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant.
If intelligence from British aircraft was used to assist Israeli strikes, legal experts say the UK could be complicit under the Rome Statute.
Increased support
Despite suspending flights, Britain continues to export weapons to Israel. A recent Channel 4 News investigation found that UK arms exports to Israel are at record levels, with over 300 active licences.
The UK has also admitted in court that “Israel is not committed to upholding international humanitarian law.”
Yet surveillance operations continued throughout the bombardment, and flights were even recorded during ceasefire periods earlier this year.
Defence Secretary John Healey praised the RAF’s “professionalism” and said he was “proud” of Britain’s role in aiding hostage recovery.
But for Palestinians, the missions represent another example of British intelligence being used to strengthen Israel’s military campaign..
