British spy squad: Covert force complicit in Israeli strikes on Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Declassified UK + The New York Times
11 Jun 2024 17:22
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A leak to the New York Times has revealed further details about Britain's covert involvement in "Israel's" war on Gaza.

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A leaked photo of SAS soldiers on active duty. It is likely the unit is part of the secret British spy team deployed in “Israel”. (Facebook)

A high-ranking Israeli official disclosed that a British spy team had been stationed in "Israel" since the start of its aggression on Gaza in October, Declassified UK reported on Tuesday citing a recent leak to The New York Times.

This new information was reported in a New York Times article on Saturday, which covered an Israeli operation to retrieve four captives during a raid that also resulted in the killings of hundreds of Palestinians.

🚨🚨The Zionists have killed more than 150 civilians so far. They committed a massacre in the Nuseirat camp. The number is increasing, and the bodies of the martyrs are still arriving at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital continuously. pic.twitter.com/79eB5MW7BP
— Dr. Abdallah Mohammed (@jjjjwza) June 8, 2024

"Israel" is currently under investigation for genocide at the World Court, while the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant.

As more details emerge about the UK's role in the Israeli war on Gaza, British ministers could face legal repercussions, the report stressed.

The New York Times article emphasized that “intelligence collection and analysis teams from the United States and Britain have been in Israel throughout the war."

It went on to say that the British personnel were “assisting Israeli intelligence in collecting and analyzing information related to the hostages, some of them citizens of both countries."

The Israeli official said that “the outside intelligence” provided by the UK had provided them with “added value”.

However, they still alleged that “neither the American nor British teams were involved in the planning or execution of the military operations to rescue the hostages."

Declassified previously uncovered that the RAF has conducted over 200 surveillance missions over Gaza from Cyprus since December, with at least one aircraft landing in "Israel".

However, this is the first time it has been confirmed that British intelligence officers have been deployed within "Israel" to support its aggression on Gaza.

The Israeli official noted that Britain has been able to supply aerial and cyber intelligence that "Israel" is unable to gather independently, as per the report.

Dive deeper

It is unclear which UK agencies the British team deployed in "Israel" belongs to, but it likely includes the SAS, Britain’s elite special forces unit.

On October 27, The Sun reported that the SAS, which operates without democratic oversight, had been sent to UK bases in Cyprus to purportedly rescue British captives.

The UK's “D-Notice” committee, which aims to prevent the publication of information deemed harmful to national security, requested on October 28 that all media editors refrain from publishing further details about SAS operations in Gaza.

36 military transport aircraft have flown from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to Tel Aviv, including six C-17s and 30 A400M planes, Declassified revealed.

These aircraft could have transported up to 4,300 personnel, likely including SAS troops.

Additionally, as per the report, it is probable that GCHQ and MI6 personnel are part of the British team stationed in "Israel".

US military intel linked to Nuseirat massacre, British role uncertain

Two Israeli intelligence officials informed The New York Times that US military personnel stationed in "Israel" supplied some of the intelligence for Saturday's attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp, which resulted in the killing of 274 Palestinians, including children. During this operation, four captives were retrieved.

It remains unclear if British personnel contributed intelligence to the deadly Israeli attack, as per the report.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said, as quoted by the Declassified, “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on speculation on intelligence matters.”

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps previously claimed that RAF surveillance flights over Gaza were intended to aid in the retrieval of British captives.

Currently, only one remaining captive is believed to be a UK national, following the killing of another passport holder, Nadav Popplewell.

On May 11, the spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, revealed that an Israeli captive Nadav Popplewell was killed after succumbing to his wounds, sustained in a targeted Israeli airstrike amid the aggression against the Gaza Strip.

Abu Obeida stated that Popplewell, 51, had sustained serious injuries when an Israeli airstrike targeted a location of captivity. Amid the Israeli deliberate destruction of hospitals in Gaza, Popplewell could not receive the necessary medical treatment.