Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

UK conducted surveillance flights over Gaza to locate captives: FM

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 14 Jan 2025 20:01
6 Min Read

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy claims these aircraft are unarmed, and their sole mission is to identify the locations of the Israeli captives held in the Palestinian Strip.

Listen
  • x
  • UK conducted surveillance flights over Gaza to locate captives: FM
    Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy delivers a speech on the government plans for new sanctions which will target the finances of people smuggling networks as part of efforts to stop migrants crossing the English Channel, in London, Thursday, January 9, 2025. (AP)

The UK has conducted unarmed surveillance flights over the Gaza Strip to locate Israeli captives held by Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy acknowledged.

Lammy stated that the Ministry of Defense is carrying out aerial surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including Gaza’s airspace, claiming that these aircraft are unarmed, and their sole mission is to identify the locations of the captives.  

In a message addressed to the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Commons, Lammy explained that the ministry is specifically focused on ensuring the safe and immediate release of British national Emily Damari and three other captives with strong ties to the United Kingdom: Eli Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz, and Avinatan Or.

He stressed that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is the best way to secure the release of all captives.

Regarding "Israel’s" compliance with international humanitarian law during the war on Gaza, Lammy claimed in the message to the committee that it was not possible to assess "Israel's" adherence to the principle of proportionality.

He attributed this to what he referred to as the complex and contested information environment in Gaza, as well as the difficulty in accessing specific and sensitive information.

UK MPs condemn gov silence on Gaza war crimes, urge envoy expulsion

Last week, British lawmakers strongly criticized the Keir Starmer government for its stance on the dire humanitarian condition in the Gaza Strip, warning that silence in the face of the brutal crimes of the Zionist regime is tantamount to complicity in genocide and the regime’s illegal actions against the Palestinian people.

One British lawmaker called for "Israel's" economic and military isolation to push the occupation entity toward a "negotiated settlement", suggesting that the Israeli ambassador to the UK should be expelled, Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.

Independent MP John McDonnell highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly exacerbated by harsh winter conditions.

"We've witnessed over the Christmas period when we're celebrating with our families, the scenes of children starving and freezing to death as a result of Israeli actions,” he stated.

Addressing the House of Commons, McDonnell emphasized that the only viable solution in the past had been the "total isolation of a country" both economically and militarily to prevent the kind of war crimes "Israel" is accused of committing.

"I think this Government could take a leading role in that isolation of Israel to bring it some form of negotiated settlement," he indicated.

McDonnell also criticized the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, for her controversial remarks, particularly her support for "Greater Israel" and her refusal to acknowledge a Palestinian state.

Related News

Poland condemns Gaza starvation

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

"We have an Israeli ambassador who’s an advocate of Greater Israel, refuses to recognize the Palestinian state, defies all the UN resolutions that have been passed about how we can secure that peace, and she still remains in this country. Why aren’t we expelling the Israeli ambassador," he questioned.

Hotovely has caused anger on several occasions since October 7, 2023, such as denying there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and claiming that the Israeli military was not bombing civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Labour Party MP Zarah Sultana expressed her support for McDonnell's call to expel the Israeli ambassador, writing on X, "I agree with @johnmcdonnellMP: Expel the Israeli Ambassador NOW."

'Where is the justice?'

The House of Commons meeting began with an urgent question from Layla Moran, a representative of the Liberal Democrat Party, who narrated heartbreaking stories about the situation of the people of Gaza and called for decisive action by the British government.

In response, Hamish Falconer, the British Deputy Foreign Secretary, while condemning "Israel’s" policies, explained the government’s alleged measures to provide aid; however, many MPs considered these measures "insufficient" and "late."

Referring to the critical situation in northern Gaza, Moran emphasized that nearly 46,000 people have been killed and more than 2.3 million Gazans are at risk of famine.

"We all know the statistics, But let’s go beyond the numbers and listen to a human story," she said and then moved to narrate the story of a surgeon whose family was trapped in the Jabalia refugee camp and then targeted by a drone strike.

"What part of international law justifies this massacre? Where is the justice?" she asked while her voice was trembling.

Falconer acknowledged that the situation in Gaza was critical and "Israel must address it urgently" and claimed that his government was working with international allies to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.

However, many MPs, including Emily Thornberry, chair of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, considered the government’s actions insufficient. "We have heard from witnesses, time and again, that the British government could have done more, but that it was either too little or too late."

Meanwhile, Labour MP Ebtisam Mohammed, referring to reports of the Israeli army forcibly evicting residents of northern Gaza, described the measures as “ethnic cleansing” and called on the government to take a firm stance on the issue.

"We are watching ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the world remains silent. Does the UK government recognize this?" she asked.

Another point of contention at the meeting was British arms exports to "Israel".

"Is the government prepared to stop arms sales to Israel?" asked Callum Miller, a spokesman for the Liberal Democrats.

"We will never allow weapons sold by the UK to be used to violate international law," Falconer said despite knowing Britain’s incomplete measures to restrict arms exports to the Zionist regime.

Read more: UK charity officially warned over fundraising for Israeli soldier

  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • David Lammy
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS