A groundbreaking investigation by Declassified UK has exposed extensive covert military collaboration between Britain and Israel during the Gaza conflict, challenging official narratives about the purpose of surveillance operations. The documentary ‘Britain’s Gaza Spy Flight Scandal,’ released Thursday, presents evidence of hundreds of Royal Air Force surveillance missions conducted from Cyprus’s RAF Akrotiri base, located merely 40 minutes from Tel Aviv.
While Britain’s Ministry of Defence maintains these flights exclusively support hostage rescue operations, the investigation reveals significantly broader activities. The film captures unprecedented footage of American contractor-operated spy planes—leased by the RAF—departing from Akrotiri to conduct surveillance over Gaza. These operations reportedly included up to 116 additional missions beyond previously disclosed numbers, utilizing advanced radar imaging systems capable of transmitting high-resolution footage to Israeli forces in real time.
The documentary highlights the tragic case of James Henderson, a former royal marine killed in an Israeli airstrike on a World Central Kitchen aid convoy on April 1, 2024. Despite RAF aircraft capturing footage from that exact day, the MoD has refused to release the material citing national security concerns—a decision Henderson’s father Neil characterizes as ‘an insult’ that prevents understanding whether aid workers were deliberately targeted.
Further investigations reveal the MoD possesses additional footage of Israeli strikes that killed eight volunteers from UK charity Al-Khair Foundation in March, yet continues to withhold this evidence under security exemptions. Former RAF technician Steve Masters challenges the official narrative, noting Britain cannot control how Israel utilizes shared intelligence, suggesting the material could easily serve target acquisition purposes rather than purely humanitarian missions.
The film also documents growing Cypriot opposition to British military operations, featuring local protests and statements from politician Melanie Steliou who condemns the base’s role in facilitating missions that result in civilian casualties. This comprehensive investigation raises serious questions about accountability, transparency, and the ethical implications of military intelligence sharing during active conflicts.