ByAl Mayadeen English / Source: DeclassifiedUK / 29 May 2024 20:04

On photo: Jackal 2 Reconnaissance vehicles drive off the Royal Air Force (RAF) ATLAS C.1 (A400M) aircrft (UK Ministry of Defence)

The purpose of these flights remains unclear, though the MoD stated they were allegedly used for diplomatic engagements with “Israel,” without providing specifics.

An investigation conducted by Declassified UK revealed on Wednesday that since the start of the war on Gaza, the UK’s military has conducted 60 flights to “Israel.”

The report notes that these flights primarily departed from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, and their majority occurred within the first four months of the genocide.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed 48 flights between October 2023 and February 2024, with an additional 11 flights until early May. There were no recorded flights to “Israel” from RAF Akrotiri in the six months preceding October 7.

The purpose of these flights remains unclear, though the MoD claimed they were used for diplomatic engagements with “Israel,” without providing specifics.

The lack of transparency has garnered attention, especially since the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant.

When pressed for details on cargo and personnel transported, the MoD’s responses were evasive.

The MoD responses mentioned transporting officials, UK Armed Forces personnel, and medical supplies but refused to elaborate on the nature of “defense engagement” or provide specific numbers of military personnel transported.

This lack of transparency contrasts with past revelations of the UK’s deployment of 500 extra troops to Cyprus following the onset of the war on Gaza.