Flight logs tracking aircraft from RAF Akrotiri, the UK’s air base in Cyprus, reveal a consistent pattern of RAF military transport aircraft flying to Israel, on a daily basis from October 13 to October 26.
According to information obtained by Declassified UK, a total of 33 RAF flights from Cyprus to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport have been recorded since the commencement of Israel’s bombing of Gaza.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) told Declassified it had sent 17 flights into Israel’s capital, however, the specific timeframe for these flights remains unclear.
Examining flight records dating back to August 6, no evidence of UK military flights from RAF Akrotiri to Israel was found before the onset of the Gaza bombing, Declassified UK reports.
The precise nature of the UK’s military assistance to Israel remains elusive, raising questions about the accountability of Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in his role overseeing the UK military. This revelation could expose him to inquiries from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is actively investigating evidence of war crimes committed during the Gaza bombing.
“RAF Akrotiri, which has long been the staging post for British bombing campaigns in the Middle East, sits 180 miles from Tel Aviv. The flight time is 40 minutes,” Declassified UK writes.
In response to inquiries by Declassified UK, an MoD spokesperson stated, “The RAF has operated 17 flights into Tel Aviv to support the UK’s diplomatic engagement in the country as well as to assist with the departure of British nationals,” adding that none of these flights transported lethal aid for foreign nations.
The majority of UK military aircraft landing in Tel Aviv during this period were identified as the C-17A Globemaster III and A400M Atlas C1, both military transport vehicles. The UK possesses eight Globemaster and 21 Atlas vehicles. The C-17 is capable of transporting 134 personnel and various military equipment, including Abrams tanks and three Black Hawk helicopters.
Declassified is investigating whether UK military vehicles are being employed to transport personnel and/or military equipment to support Israel’s campaign in Gaza. The MoD, however, has refrained from providing detailed information.
During the identified two-week period of daily RAF flights to Tel Aviv, multiple UK military transport planes frequently made the journey.
On October 15, a total of six UK military flights were recorded to Israel.
The flights abruptly ceased at the end of October for reasons that remain unclear. Notably, a new vehicle, the CN-235 military transport aircraft, flew from RAF Akrotiri to Israel on November 5th and 7th.
Additionally, a British A400 Atlas made the last known flight to Israel on Wednesday of the same week.
