Revealed: UK Hands Gaza Intel to Israeli Military in Real-Time
Gaza (Quds News Network)- British spy planes flying over Gaza are collecting intelligence and passing it directly to Israel’s military, the UK government has confirmed for the first time ever, reported The Times.
Senior UK officials admitted that the intelligence is shared in real-time while RAF aircraft are in the skies over Gaza.
The confirmation follows a months-long surveillance mission over the besieged Palestinian territory, which has seen over 61,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023.
British surveillance planes, including the RAF’s Shadow R1, have flown hundreds of missions over Gaza since the genocide began. These flights took off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
The Shadow R1 is equipped with advanced optical and electronic sensors. It can scan streets, buildings, and convoys and zoom in on specific targets.
Flight tracking data shows these missions have continued until at least July 2025.
The British Ministry of Defence confirmed that surveillance flights over Gaza are “still ongoing.” However, officials refused to reveal which aircraft are now involved. An RAF source said the Shadow R1 planes have returned to the UK, but replacements remain unidentified.
The intelligence gathered is reportedly passed directly to the Israeli military under the pretext of assisting in locating remaining Israeli soldier prisoners taken on October 7, 2023.
The ministry claims the information is shared only to support Israeli soldier prisoners rescue. But experts say this claim raises serious concerns.
“In reality, that intelligence is just as likely to be used for targeting Hamas or others,” said former British Army Major General Charlie Herbert.
He warned that once handed over, the UK loses control of how the data is used.
Alongside the Shadow R1, other aircraft used in the mission include:
The Poseidon P8 maritime patrol aircraft
The Rivet Joint electronic surveillance aircraft, which collects electronic signals and communications
These planes give Israel unprecedented access to aerial data over Gaza. This includes visual scans of urban areas and intercepted signals from devices on the ground.
This intelligence-sharing revelation comes as UK-Israel relations face strain.
Last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would recognize a Palestinian state by September 2025 if Israel fails to improve conditions in Gaza.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy called Israel’s attacks on starved Palestinians “grotesque” and warned of further sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers.
But despite the surface-level diplomatic friction, the UK’s military support for Israel remains steady.
The UK government previously said it may share intelligence with the International Criminal Court (ICC) if requested. But the continued coordination with Israeli forces raises concerns about complicity in war crimes.
