UK could share intelligence gathered over Gaza in ICC war crime probe

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
26 Oct 2024 08:06
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Surveillance footage recorded by the UK over Gaza to allegedly gather intelligence related to the Israeli captives could be provided to the ICC in its probe for war crimes in the Strip.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addresses a press conference at the British Embassy in Berlin, Germany, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP)

The United Kingdom would consider providing the International Criminal Court (ICC) with intelligence footage gathered from its espionage flights over the Gaza Strip if requested, the BBC recently reported.

A May report by Declassified UK revealed that the UK carried out hundreds of surveillance flights over Gaza through its Cyprus base, the RAF Akrotiri, amassing over 1,000 hours of surveillance footage over Gaza, pointing out to a substantial amount of monitoring efforts by British forces in the region.

Initially portrayed as assistance for ongoing rescue operations of Israeli captives, the frequency and timing of these flights have stirred suspicions of participating in military actions, according to Declassified UK.

Although the UK denied partaking in any aggression in Gaza, there were speculations that the surveillance extends beyond rescue operations to encompass broader intelligence-gathering objectives amid the enduring war on Gaza.

The report further discussed a significant incident where a British spy flight was airborne during an Israeli strike on aid workers in Gaza, which resulted in the tragic deaths of three British citizens.

Currently, the ICC is investigating war crimes in the Gaza Strip, prompting the British Ministry of Defense to express its willingness to provide the court with intelligence relating to the probe if requested.

"In line with our international obligations, we would consider any formal request from the International Criminal Court to provide information relating to investigations into war crimes," the Defense Ministry said.

The UK Labour government also previously revealed that it would not hurdle the issuance of arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, contrary to its conservative predecessor.