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10h ago

UK Ends Gaza Surveillance Flights After Hostage Releases Under Peace Plan

Officials say the unarmed missions were restricted to locating hostages with tightly controlled intelligence sharing.

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The spy missions were carried out by the RAF as well as a US aircraft, above, hired by the British. An error revealed the plane’s flight path over Gaza in the summer

Overview

  • The Ministry of Defence confirmed the flights have ceased, with the final mission on 10 October 2025 following the Gaza peace plan and the release of remaining hostages.
  • Operations began in December 2023 and covered the Eastern Mediterranean as well as Israeli and Gazan airspace to support hostage recovery efforts.
  • According to the MoD, aircraft were unarmed, had no combat role, and only intelligence relevant to hostage rescue was provided to Israeli authorities.
  • The Times reports that some sorties were carried out by UK-funded American contractors, including a Nevada-based firm, and that US-registered aircraft N6147U was publicly tracked over Khan Yunis on 28 July.
  • Defence Secretary John Healey praised UK personnel and described the ceasefire as a moment of relief, while recent reporting has prompted scrutiny over contractor use and oversight.