UK considers sharing RAF intelligence on Gaza with ICC for war crimes
- The Royal Air Force has conducted over 600 missions over Gaza since December 2023 to support operations for locating Hamas-held hostages.
- The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed its intelligence is solely focused on hostage rescue efforts without broader involvement in the conflict.
- The UK is prepared to consider requests from the International Criminal Court regarding potential evidence of war crimes gathered by RAF operations.
In Gaza, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has conducted extensive surveillance operations since December 2023, primarily focusing on gathering intelligence to assist Israeli authorities in locating hostages taken by Hamas during an attack on October 7, 2023. The UK Ministry of Defence clarified that the RAF's operations are limited to this hostage situation and do not encompass wider military objectives in the ongoing conflict. Reports indicate that the RAF has performed more than 600 flights within the region, strictly adhering to their defined mandate. The UK's stance includes a promise to consider any formal requests from the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding evidence collected that might indicate war crimes. However, as of now, no requests for this intelligence have materialized. Recent developments see Israel under scrutiny with a push for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, highlighting serious accusations related to war crimes and humanitarian violations by both Israeli and Hamas leaders. The courts are focusing on allegations against leaders for their actions following the Hamas attack, which resulted in extensive casualties, including the deaths of many civilians in Gaza. The UK government emphasizes that its support for Israel is confined to intelligence sharing for hostage rescue operations and strictly complies with international humanitarian laws. In conclusion, the ongoing military and humanitarian crises in Gaza involve complex interactions between nations, international law, and issues of wartime ethics, reflecting the intense global focus on the accountability of both the Israeli government and Palestinian militant leaders.