Amid Internal Criticism.. Britain Continues Semi-Daily Air Surveillance Flights Over Gaza

SadaNews - The British newspaper "The Guardian" reported that London continues to conduct semi-daily air surveillance flights over Gaza, with the help of an American company, at a time when questions are growing about how the gathered intelligence is being used and shared with the Israeli military.

Flight trackers estimate that the British Air Force's "Shadow" aircraft have conducted more than 600 flights over Palestinian territories, departing from the Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus, in an attempt to locate the remaining hostages held by Hamas since December 2023.

The surveillance flights began under the Conservative Party but continued under the Labour Party, with few details disclosed, initially averaging about two flights a day and then dropping to one flight a day recently, according to specialized flight trackers.

Surveillance tasks were transferred to the American "Sierra Nevada" company in late July to reduce costs, and sources within the British Air Force indicated that they continue most days aboard a similar aircraft. However, within days, an error occurred when a new spy plane was spotted flying over Khan Yunis on July 28; until that time, the transponders on spy planes were turned off halfway through their journey from Akrotiri towards Gaza, over the eastern Mediterranean.

According to flight tracker and analyst Stefan Watkins, this mistake means that "the flights of the British Air Force over Gaza can be confirmed, not just near it."

Watkins added that subsequent tightened security measures made tracking flights more complicated, although the spy plane turned its transponders on and off on August 3, 4, and 6 before departing Akrotiri.

The "Shadow" aircraft are used for visual surveillance, day or night, and are often used to support operations of British Special Forces.

A defense source stated that they have been trained on buildings in Gaza in an attempt to determine whether there are any signs of the twenty hostages who are believed to still be alive.

Politician Jeremy Corbyn remarked that "the continued British military cooperation with Israel is inexcusable; a genocide is being broadcast live around the world."

The former Labour leader added: "We are still unaware of the reason for the continued flights and the provided intelligence."

Helen Maguire, a spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats on defense issues, stated that while she supports the UK’s efforts to locate the remaining hostages, "the government must clarify the steps taken to ensure that Israel cannot use British intelligence in its military operations in Gaza."

Former Defense Minister Grant Shapps first announced the air surveillance flights in 2023, in support of Israel, and did not provide any details about how the spy planes are assisting Israel.

The British government states it takes careful steps to control what it shares with Israel. When specifically asked last month about air surveillance flights, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "It would be completely wrong for the British government to assist with this war in Gaza. We are not doing that. And I will never do that."

Military sources indicated that the normal process of sharing British intelligence with Israel or any other foreign country would involve checks by a political advisor and a lawyer, in a process that one source said could take "minutes, hours, or days."

The British source added: "Why would we want to be involved in a conflict that raises accusations of genocide and violations of international humanitarian law?" adding that if Richard Hermer, the Attorney General, had raised serious concerns, the flights would likely not continue.

Sharing military-useful information with Israel would make the UK a party to the ongoing war, but once the information is shared, it cannot be fully controlled how intelligence might be used by a third party.

Labour MP Kim Johnson stated that "it is tremendously concerning that air surveillance flights over Gaza continue relentlessly, even with serious questions about their purpose and oversight - especially after we spent months calling for the end of using the Akrotiri base to share intelligence with Israel during its genocidal attack on Gaza."

The British Ministry of Defense did not comment, but indicated that it conducts unarmed air surveillance flights over Gaza to locate hostages and that it controls the information shared with Israeli authorities.

Likewise, the Attorney General's office stated it does not comment on legal consultations provided to other ministers.