The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that British surveillance operations over Gaza and Israel have ended following the agreement of a peace plan between Israel and Hamas, the department stated.
According to the update, UK surveillance flights began in December 2023 in response to the 7 October terrorist attacks against Israel, which included the kidnapping of hostages, among them British nationals.
The aircraft operated over the Eastern Mediterranean and within Israeli and Gazan airspace, but the Ministry of Defence emphasised that all missions were unarmed and had “no combat role”, being conducted solely to assist in locating hostages.
The government confirmed that information gathered during the flights was “strictly controlled” and that only intelligence directly relevant to hostage rescue operations was shared with Israeli authorities. With the release of the remaining hostages under the Gaza peace plan, the final UK surveillance flight took place on 10 October 2025.
Defence Secretary John Healey described the ceasefire as “a moment of profound relief, for the civilian population of Gaza, for the Israeli hostages and their families, who have all endured unimaginable suffering.”
He added that he was “proud of the UK’s efforts to support the safe return of the hostages, and the professionalism of our service personnel involved.” Healey said the safe return of all hostages and the restoration of aid were “critical first steps” toward achieving a lasting peace.
Just for a brief moment there, I thought it was a Shackleton !
(told you I was a Halfwit)
“Britain ends surveillance flights over Gaza” ….. and promptly draws up plans to retire the Beechcraft R1 Shadow fleet and disband 14 Squadron …… as it’s no longer needed! No don’t ask me for a source, I was being cynical!
They acquired two more Shadows in the last couple of years , so…
I believe they’ve taken on the Defender, Islander role too, in support of the Security Service, as well as DSF. So I’d be shocked.
But nothing this government does defence wise would surprise me.
6 x Shadow mk1 currently being upgraded to mk2, plus 2 x more mk 2 ordered for delivery end this year.
Those 2 extra were first reported years ago, I’d assumed they were already with the Sqn.
We could ask the Chinese. For sure they would know. 😧
Have HMG Ok’d the new Chinese Embassy close to the city and financial data cables yet? Embassy complete with customary basement areas which they refuse to detail what they’ll be used for.
No. The decision was due any time now but has been ‘delayed’. I guess because the whole Chinese thing is politically so hot at the moment, and a lot of heads would explode if the embassy was given the go ahead.
But I wouldn’t be surprised if it is when things cool down – Starmer can say it’s a purely planning matter and do his usual “not me, guv” thing. I know UKDJ is a military not a political site, so forgive me but I have to say that IMO Starmer really is the pits.
What I fear even more is what replaces him from within.
This at least has defence implications, that being a better base for expanding Chinese espionage.
We may as well give them.carte blanche to do as they will.We don’t even prosecute when we catch them!. I make no excuse about being a Sinophobe regards their government and their intentions, but this latest debacle shocks even me. I have serious concerns about this governments true intentions regards the price it is willing to pay for closer economic ties with China.
It’s evident that the CCP dictatorship doesn’t respect fair trade, international rule of law, intellectual property and human rights.
Their strategy of global mercantile dominance is clearly not in the national interest of any other sovereign nation rather a loss of sovereign capabilities so freedom to choose. The USA has found out that 70% of “rare earth” materials are processed by CCP and it takes decades to learn and build that capability.
CCP now says that such materials that might be used in military production will be licensed not freely traded. Thus recent US interest in Australian mining industry and resources. However that’s likely still a significant gap.
I’d say that judging by what they do, it’s completely rational to recognise the CCP dictatorship is not our friend, rather a massive threat.
These flights may bite back later. Hopefully data won’t get lost if questions asked.
I find the smokescreen of no intel shared with Israel unless hostage related a bit unbelievable.
Can anyone really believe anything this government says or does? And then did they pass this in front of the Chinese for approval before saying it?
Why would anyone believe that intelligence shared with the USA according to Five Eyes is not then shared with Israeli security organisations?
The USA Israeli integration is on the public record. Nobody else can call in B2 Spirit raids on aggressors nuclear facilities..