In a series of questions raised on 11 November 2024, Brendan O’Hara MP (Scottish National Party – Argyll, Bute, and South Lochaber) pressed the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on its handling of intelligence shared with Israel, surveillance over Gaza, and processes to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.
These questions reflect concerns over the use of UK-gathered intelligence in the region, particularly in relation to the ongoing hostage crisis.
O’Hara questioned the steps taken by the MOD to ensure that any intelligence shared with the Israeli government is used within the limits of international humanitarian law. He also inquired about discussions held between the UK and Israeli Defence Ministers on this topic.
Responding to these concerns, Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, clarified, “The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only, including British nationals. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities.”
Pollard added that the MOD’s practices are consistent with its legal obligations under both domestic and international law, and confirmed that UK and Israeli officials engage regularly on humanitarian and legal matters, including the situation in Gaza.
In a related question, O’Hara sought details on discussions ensuring that data from unarmed RAF surveillance flights over Gaza is strictly used to locate Israeli hostages. Pollard reiterated the narrow scope of the MOD’s mandate, assuring that “only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities,” and reaffirmed that all MOD practices align with international legal standards.
Lastly, O’Hara asked whether the MOD has established a process for assessing and retaining evidence collected by RAF surveillance flights over Gaza. In response, Pollard noted the MOD’s limited mandate focused solely on hostage recovery, adding, “We are unable to comment further on detailed intelligence matters for operational security reasons.”
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You find the hostages, you find a Hamas location. That’s if they are still in Palestine.
No change of position here since day 1 Oct 2023 then.
Alternative title: UK dos not care if Palestinians are ruled by Hamas.
Not our job to worry who rules the Palestinians. They voted Hamas into power and if wasn’t for Hamas’ savagery on 7th Oct, none of this would have happened. Hamas could end the war tomorrow – release all the hostages (dead and alive) and hand over your guns. Make no mistake, Israel will do whatever it takes to make sure 7th Oct never happens again!
Bravo, well said!
Had it not been for Hamas, the 7th October and the 67% support of the massacre by the Gazan population, there would have been no war.
I still remember the video of that poor brutalised and denigrated dead German girl, whose only crime was wanting to listen to music, being paraded naked and bloodied through the streets of Gaza as a trophy with thousands of rejoicing Gazans. It was like they’d won the World Cup. Well the effers have got their just deserts. They’re all burning in hell now; sent there courtesy of the IDF.
It’s now Hezbollah’s turn. Next stop, Iran.
The Palestinians did not vote Hamas into power, they voted Hamas into the state legislature, Hamas then took power by force in Gaza
The same Hamas that then blocked – and continues to block – any new elections.
Net result is the same – not our problem.
Believe this? Nah, not for one minute.