The Royal Air Force (RAF) conducted surveillance flights near Gaza on each of the five days during the ceasefire when Palestinian Resistance released Israeli captives, Declassified UK revealed.

No such planes were observed heading toward the Strip on the remaining days of the truce.

No information is available on whether the sixth exchange saw similar reconnaissance flights.

The latest flight, operated by a Shadow R1 spy plane, took place on February 8, the same day three Israeli captives— Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami — were released. Evidence uncovered by Declassified suggests the plane was airborne at the time of the release.

Other captives were freed on February 1 and on January 19, 25, and 30 as part of the ceasefire deal between "Israel" and Hamas. Among them was British-Israeli Emily Damari. RAF aircraft were also active during these releases, according to flight data.

The surveillance planes take off from Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, heading toward Gaza before switching off their transponders.

Before the ceasefire, these reconnaissance missions occurred almost daily, with the UK government claiming they were assisting "Israel" in locating captives.

'What intelligence is RAF Akrotiri sharing with Israel?'

Labour MP Brian Leishman said, as quoted by Declassified, “The ongoing use of a British military base in Cyprus with spy planes flying near Gaza is concerning. The purpose of these flights, the activities they undertake, and what happens with any information they gather should be both questioned and explained.”

Campaigners in Cyprus are also skeptical of the UK government’s justification for the continued surveillance.

Melanie Steliou, a Cypriot actress and spokesperson for Social Alliance — a movement affiliated with Cyprus’ main opposition party AKEL — told Declassified, “The explanation that the flights from RAF Akrotiri are only for rescuing captives is not convincing.”

“Why are these flights continuing during a ceasefire? Why are they near Gaza during captive releases? What intelligence is RAF Akrotiri sharing with Israel?"

“Are they only sharing intelligence, or is the involvement of the bases at a greater level, creating even more risks for Cyprus and its people? These are legitimate questions,” Steliou said.

A spokesperson for Britain’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) also said, as quoted by Declassified, “The UK’s operational mandate has been narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the captives only.”

They claimed that RAF flights in the Eastern Mediterranean during the truce “did not enter Gazan airspace and at all times operated in accordance with the ceasefire and captive release agreement between Israel and Hamas.”

However, the UK military may be violating the spirit, if not the letter, of the ceasefire agreement. The original text of the deal between "Israel" and Hamas stipulated that during the first phase, “all aviation (military and reconnaissance) in the Gaza Strip shall cease for 10 hours a day, and for 12 hours on the days when captives and prisoners are being exchanged.”

This condition was meant to provide Palestinians with respite from Israeli bombardment and assure Hamas that "Israel" would not collect intelligence on captive movements or locations for use if the ceasefire collapsed.

The potential for the UK military to gather intelligence on Hamas during these releases raises concerns that "Israel" could later use such information to resume its offensive against Gaza. The Shadow R1 planes are capable of collecting data for “target acquisition".

Cypriot concerns grow over British military presence 

The surveillance flights from Cyprus have sparked protests outside Akrotiri air base, where Britain retained 3% of the island following its independence in 1960.

Steliou stated, “What has been going on at the bases for the past 16 months has basically opened a Pandora’s box for the actual existence of the British bases in Cyprus. Cypriot citizens who in the past might have turned a blind eye to the activities on the British bases are now more aware than ever of the implications and the dangers these activities entail for the entire population."

“We have a right as citizens of this island to know how the British bases are involved in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. These activities, amongst others, make the bases a target which consequently lead to Cyprus being a target,” Steliou added.

She stressed that Social Alliance, AKEL, and other groups on the island have urged Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to demand answers from the British government.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Akrotiri in December and thanked RAF personnel there, saying, “Quite a bit of what goes on here can’t necessarily be talked about all of the time. We can’t necessarily tell the world what you’re doing."