British military aircraft have been providing surveillance support to Israel and delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
On 7 October 2023, a fresh armed conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip.
This escalation followed a multi-pronged invasion of southern Israel by the militants, prompting a forceful response from Israel. In retaliation, the Israeli military conducted an extensive aerial bombardment campaign on Gazan targets, followed by a large-scale ground invasion of Gaza.
The conflict has resulted in considerable loss of life: more than 1,200 Israelis, predominantly civilians, and over 11,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Recent parliamentary disclosures have highlighted the United Kingdom’s significant involvement in the conflict, underscoring its dual role in providing surveillance support to Israel and delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
John Healey MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, enquired about the extent of British military support in the Eastern Mediterranean.
James Heappey, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, outlined the UK’s pivotal role, stating, “A total of 12 aircraft have deployed to the eastern Mediterranean. These flights have provided surveillance support to Israel, including preventing the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups, and to wider regional security. They have also delivered humanitarian aid into Egypt.”
Healey also asked about surveillance operations since October 2023. Heappey, emphasising the sensitivity of such missions, responded, “The UK has deployed P8 and other surveillance assets to improve our situational awareness in the region and provide assurance to our partners.” However, he noted, “For operational security reasons, I cannot comment on the specifics of this activity.”
Addressing the UK’s humanitarian efforts, Healey sought details on RAF flights carrying aid to Gaza. Heappey said, “Between 7 October and 8 November, there have been three RAF flights that have carried humanitarian aid destined for Gaza, totalling 51 tonnes.” This statement highlights the UK’s significant role in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The presence of RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay in the Eastern Mediterranean was also confirmed. Heappey elucidated their role, stating, “RFA LYME BAY and RFA ARGUS deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean on 8 November, establishing a UK presence in the region. This allows us to respond to the humanitarian crisis as needed.”
It also allow us to monitor Iran who will be looking to use their proxies to further divide the region.
I just hope-given the small numbers of airframes-it is not detracting from NATO activities in Ukraine?
Of course it does. I’ve been telling the Ukraine fanboys since day one they will get thrown under a bus. Also, since when is Ukraine in NATO?
Are you being deliberately pedantic?
Do you not think these little annoying details matter? I mean it’s only a potential existential threat of war with Russia I suppose.
I must have missed where someone said Ukraine was in NATO.
NATO is not operating in Ukraine.
I wonder if certain NATO ‘special forces’ are at work in Ukraine?
Should the U.K. really be getting involved with this mess? The USA has more than enough stuff in the region to help out with surveillance. Israel has lots of its own surveillance.
Surveillance for the uk interests is fine. Why the actual passing of information needs to be made public I don’t know. Could easily of said the planes are in the eastern med watching out for U.K. interests.
I had thought the U.K. and Israel had a quieter relationship.
Exactly. How difficult could it be to state ‘no comment?’ 🤔
The US and UK are the only operators of the Rivet Joint which has unique capability blended into a single platform.
Saudi Arabia also operate Rivet Joint.
They operate the RE 3A on the same airframe as rivet joint but the systems are likely not as advanced.
Sorry you are wrong. Saudi do not operate the Rivet Joint. They have an RE3A. Also a few King Air. Their RE3A has had an upgrade under the auspicious of Big Safari. It called into Waddington enroute I believe a few years ago. The capability falls far short of the Rivet Joint. Ours recieve regular upgrades on a contract basis. The USA and ourselves only partially pass on information gathered on a need to know basis. The capability they do not share.
I agree, not a conflict we should be involved in. We have plenty of other stuff to worry about. I have no idea what Sunak thinks he is doing or why he would fly in to Israel to show support other than him getting face time on world media. What kind of good will or diplomatic weight does that gain us with anyone. Indeed I can’t think of a serving British PM ever doing something similar. Maybe Sunak is hoping to line up the US speaking tours when he gets fired next year. I’m sure the US and Israel have… Read more »
You’re incredibly naive if you think this conflict is a 1 on 1 Israel vs Hamas situation. Iranian forces have launched over 40 attacks on US forces in the Middle East in the last 30 days. Russian aircraft continue to operate from Syria into the med daily. The Houthi’s are now launching Iranian cruise missiles at Israel AND Saudi Arabia. The Chinese PLAN are building up a sea base across the channel in Djibouti. This is an incredibly complex conflict that involves all of the world’s actors. Putin basically opened another front with the west. You can’t contest a global… Read more »
I believe it was this week that the UN Forces in Mali have now all pulled out. Leaving just the Malian security forces with “help” from Wagner, to deal with the Islamic fundamentalists in the North.
After the coup, The Malian Government wanted all foreign forces out, especially the French. However, they welcomed Wagner with open arms. Surprised that there’s enough of Wagner left after getting malleted in Ukraine?
Thank you for your post, saved me having to reply.
I’m not naive you are, your getting sucked into the same old geopolitics trap that we have been blindly running into since the great game in the 19th century. There is always going to be some in the ME up to shenanigans. We don’t run a global empire anymore and we don’t have any treaty Allie’s in the area. We currently depend on Qatar for a fair bit of LNG but we can easily escort our own tankers and getting involved with Israel just sticks a bigger target on our back. If Iran try’s to block navigation of the straits… Read more »
You really know nothing. Ever heard of Exactor for example?
” f**k it wants flying in the face of international law and the UN charter.”
It seems you don’t know international law then.
Boris did it a few times, with trips to Ukraine. Probably the only decent thing he got right. Not sure on your rationale on how Israel caused most of Gaza’s problems? Israel pulled their occupation forces out years ago, including settlers. Gaza has been its own sovereign entity for years, whose population voted in Hamas as the Government. Fuel, water and electricity was provided at a huge discount. Along with work permits in Israel. Don’t see the West Bank being complicit in the Hamas actions or Israel bombing them back to the Stone Age. The so called “Palestinians” have created… Read more »
Good to see some common sense and logic applied and some rather obvious questions.
When I was referencing British PM flying in I meant to Israel. Israel has had dozens of wars and attacks both being attacked and being the attacker since 1948 and I can’t think of a time when a British PM flew in. Nor can I think of a US President doing the same. The rod the Israelis have made for their own back is by refusing to return to 1967 borders. If they did this then I would be prepared to offer them assistance as you would for any UN member that is attacked. It’s that simple. They are in… Read more »
“In fact it’s the same solution used against the Jews right across Europe for a thousands years and it’s called a ghetto.” I start with most dumb thing you wrote. Jews were not exploding in Europe, launching rockets in Europe or even making violence in Europe. That is like saying that soldier using a weapons is like a criminal using a weapon. “The rod the Israelis have made for their own back is by refusing to return to 1967 borders.” So they would return to their borders and let a PLO movement that wants to destroy them build an arsenal… Read more »
So what if these assets are able to provide us irtel that allows us to check what Isreal is saying that’s of nassive value. It also means we have independent Intel when talking to allies in the region again massively important in preventing a wider conflict. As there’s logical benefits and me not being politically aligned I would hope a labour government would be doing the same to ensure they had independent Intel to.make there own decisions.
I don’t doubt the benefit of the intel and what we may be doing is gathering intel on Israeli actions to stop war crimes and sharing this with our Allie’s in the region to keep things calm. We could have done that like we normally do, quietly in the background. But since Rishi Sunak decided to fly in to Israel and give me Benjamin Netanyahu a big hug 5 minutes after sleepy Joe left on Airforce One it now looks like we are directly involved which we have not done since 1956 for good reason. Sunaks action shave changed everything… Read more »
Just a minor point. As part of UKUSA agreement, now known as 5 eyes, the world is split up into regions, which the 5 members take lead role.
I understand the Middle East is/was the area the UK, so GCHQ, take the lead.
Which might explain our involvement intelligence wise.
Good point, I never thought about that, again if Rishi had not deemed it necessary to fly out to get his 5 minutes of fame we could be doing this in the background, now it appears we are standing front and centre with the US and Israel which is a position I don’t want to be in. It brings us zero benefit and potentially great damage to our relationships with a key allies in the region.
On the point of Sunaks grandstanding I’m in agreement.
Sunak made even less of what he should have done.
But if the official policy of UK is sucking up to Islamist governments including Hamas supporting ones like its police does then you are just not any more a country and have no autonomy.
I guess the Apartheid of women in Middle East as 2nd citizens is of no care…
Israel is tip of the spear. The canary in coal mine.
If you don’t understand that you understand nothing.
Bizarrely then you say that Hamas must be destroyed…
Hamas is just blip of the whole thing which is the resurgence of Political and Military Islam after the failure of Arab Socialism.
If these assets are able to cross check what Isreal is saying then surely that’s a good thing. If our Intel doesn’t align with there’s then we have a further line of questioning if we can say with confidence to our allies in the region we have supporting Intel then that’s also got to be a positive and go a long way to preventing escalation.
There are probably some severe limits on what we can share outside of 5 eyes with any intel we gather off an RC135. Also Hezbola is not ISIS or Al Qaeda or any of the terrorist organisations we are actively engaging against, indeed they are enemies of one another I doubt we will gather any intel that’s of direct use to UK security operations.
Jim, After analyzing your posts, you clearly have a preconditioned bias against Israel. You talk up the benefits of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, yet claim Israel is authoritarian and shares no common ground with the west. Comical.
Hezbollah are the good guys too now? You’re not a serious person to engage in these conversations.
Heezbollah have been supporting terrorism all over the world. They had British hostages and killed hundred of US Marines.
hopefully uk not providing intel over gaza. this is for preventing arms being shipped into gaza via sea, i think.
Hmmm what about Europe, and keeping an eye on Ukraine? We cannot do both, and whilst I appreciate that there are those who look for any opportunity to impress the yanks, they really do not need our help.
Given we probably got over quarter of million citizens in the middle east we probably have a need to understand the situation and have first hand intel
Exactly Tom, we are not the worlds police man anymore and we have a real enemy with tanks and nuclear weapons invading one of our neighbours. We need to stop focusing on other peoples issues. RC135’s are like hens teeth.
Go ahead and contest Putin on the worthless wheat fields in Ukraine, while he shifts global geopolitical power and seizes strategic assets worldwide. Between China and Russia, they will have a majority of global natural resources under lock by 2030. Good thing we’re focused on those fields though!
Yay… Let’s help Israel kill more palistinians. I’m ashamed I ever served this country.
Palestinians groups are a death cults. It is enough to look at they teach they children
Israel don’t need, nor deserve our help there.
Perhaps if they at the very least finally apologise for terrorising our armed forces, some small gesture could be made. They won’t.
Gaza is very close to the RAF bases in Cyprus, it would seem silly not to help provide surveillance. The quicker Hamas is destroyed or surrender the sooner a ceasefire can be implemented.
Did Israel ask us for surveillance support? Do they not have aerial surveillance means? What is being ‘surveilled? Hamas positions? Evacuee movement?
I would guess Iranian proxies, Syria and Hezbollah.