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…