UK forces may be deployed in Gaza under guise of aid delivery: BBC

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: BBC
27 Apr 2024 15:14
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UK troops may be stationed in Gaza to "deliver aid" amid the UK's continuous military cooperation with "Israel" in the war on Gaza.

Soldiers wave at a F-35B aircraft waves after landing at Akrotiri Royal air forces base near coastal city of Limassol, Cyprus, Tuesday, May 21, 2019, the jets first training deployment outside of the UK. (AP)

British troops could be stationed in Gaza as "wet boots" under the guise of delivering aid through a new sea route, a BBC report showed.

A new aid corridor is expected to open next month, however, the United States stated that its forces would not be deployed ashore, leaving it up to an "unnamed third party". A senior US military official stated that US troops would not be present on the ground, but rather staying on a UK ship.

He added that another nation would be responsible for carrying out deliveries from the pier to shore. In this case, British soldiers according to the UK's consideration, would be responsible for allegedly driving aid trucks to Gaza's shore.

The United Kingdom has been a key actor in the sea-borne aid delivery operation as Defense Secretary Grant Shapps affirmed that the country took on a leading role in "the delivery of support in coordination with the US and other international allies".

However, a final decision has not yet been made, with the BBC relaying that the Prime Minister has not examined the possibilities of either deploying boots on Gazan grounds or simply having workforces to drive trucks across the pier.

Shapps, while not confirming the UK's future role once the corridor is open, stated that the country intends to establish more humanitarian aid routes. He also mentioned that British forces in Florida, US, and Cyprus have been working on ways to secure the pier and the operations that would follow.

The operation is also reportedly "supported" by Israeli ocupation forces who vowed to ensure the security of delivered aid, despite obstructing all attempts of providing Gaza with aid since the genocide started in October. Israeli forces have been training alongside US forces to "anchor the floatway to the beach".

The UK's premediated role in Gaza genocide: Declassified UK

The integrity of what the UK and US claim to be a humanitarian operation raises suspicion due to the UK's cooperation with "Israel" as it carried out its genocide in Gaza.

A report by DeClassified UK on Friday detailed that the Gaza genocide which has so far claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people had been premeditated with the UK.

In a "Roadmap" that was signed in March 2023, the UK and "Israel" agreed to solidify their strategic partnership with a commitment to address "shared threats," including from resistance groups they perceive as terrorists, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Within this framework, the partnership involved extensive defense and security cooperation, including joint training exercises and decisive actions against resistance groups.

As part of this partnership, the UK provided significant military support to "Israel" during its invasion of Gaza, with the Royal Air Force conducting surveillance missions and hosting training for Israeli military personnel. The UK further facilitated US military operations by allowing weapons supply through its base in Cyprus.

The report also discusses a secret military agreement signed between the UK and "Israel" in December 2020, discovered by Declassified UK through a tweet from the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).

The UK government did not publicize the agreement and reportedly refused to make it public, citing national security reasons. Defense Minister James Heappey provided only a brief summary of its contents in response to parliamentary inquiries.

Despite its secrecy, the agreement is believed to commit the UK to military cooperation with "Israel". There is speculation about whether the UK is fulfilling these commitments in light of its actions during the Gaza geocide.