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The National
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
How UK media are covering up British spy flights for Israel
BRITAIN'S mainstream media have not carried out a single investigation into the extent, impact or legal status of the more than 500 surveillance flights over Gaza the RAF has carried out since December 2023. The Ministry of Defence continues to insist the operations carried out by Shadow R1 aircraft based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus are designed purely to assist with the discovery of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. It appears that Britain's obedient defence correspondents have no appetite to challenge this or even to raise the slightest concern about the legal or ethical implications of providing intelligence support to Israel in the middle of a genocide. Yet thanks to dogged work by campaigners, independent journalists and pro-Palestine MPs, we know both that the flights are continuing to operate – as they did even throughout the ceasefire – and that spikes in the number of flights have coincided with especially deadly Israeli attacks on Gaza. The lack of curiosity on the part of mainstream media is perhaps not surprising but it is deeply troubling. What spy flights? ACTION on Armed Violence, which has investigated the flights, points to the opacity of the intelligence and criticises the UK Government for its repeated refusal to talk about how it has been used and who it has been shared with, adding: 'Once shared with Israel or the United States, Britain loses control of how the data is used.' Israel's incendiary attack on Iran on June 13 has led to a flurry of stories mentioning RAF Akrotiri as a potential target for Iranian retaliation given its status as the UK base for what the BBC admitted is a 'rapid deployment force available for contingencies in the Middle East'. READ MORE: David Pratt: The shadowy figures behind US-Israeli aid operation in Gaza The defacing of two military planes at RAF Brize Norton by members of Palestine Action – which led to the unprecedented decision by the Home Secretary to proscribe the group – saw many mainstream news outlets briefly citing the activists' claim that the RAF was involved in what most stories referred to as 'military operations in the Middle East'. Unusually, the BBC's account did at least mention the activists' claim that Britain was continuing to 'fly spy planes over Gaza'. However, neither these stories nor indeed any of the ones since the flights started operating in December 2023 have actually investigated these claims. Of the 1359 pieces in UK-based media between December 2, 2023 and June 14, 2025 referencing 'Akrotiri', none in the mainstream media has focused specifically on the spy flights. This is in direct contravention of a significant public interest in covering the flights as an ongoing controversy. Even Google's AI overview acknowledges this. Based on search results for 'surveillance flights, Gaza AND Cyprus', Google's conclusion is that 'it appears there has been considerable discussion and concern surrounding British surveillance flights operating out of RAF Akrotiri, a military base in Cyprus, and flying over Gaza'. Despite the fact that independent sources such as The National, Declassified UK and Middle East Eye have repeatedly drawn attention to the flights and the implications of supplying intelligence to Israeli forces, mainstream news media have refused to amplify this 'discussion and concern'. The vast majority of stories that reference Akrotiri are instead in relation to its role as a base for attacks on Houthi rebels in Yemen in January 2024 ('Brits hits Houthis' was the headline in The Sun), the repatriation of UK citizens from Lebanon in summer 2024 and the surveillance of the base by an alleged Iranian spy in June 2025. Hard news THIS lack of coverage is certainly not because the flights exist only in the imaginations of Declassified UK journalists or pro-Palestine activists. When pressed, the Ministry of Defence admits they are taking place. For example, on December 2, 2023, the BBC acknowledged the launch of surveillance flights to Gaza in order to 'search for Hamas hostage locations', still the official MoD narrative. The following October, the BBC reported that the UK was willing to hand over 'Gaza intelligence' to the International Criminal Court, if requested, as part of the ICC's investigation into alleged war crimes carried out by Israel. Other than that, however, the BBC has remained silent on the nature of this 'intelligence' and whether the flights might make the UK complicit with war crimes if found to be the case by the ICC. It has utterly failed to follow up the story. Search the BBC's 'Ministry of Defence' thread and you will find it bare. When challenged about this by Declassified, the BBC's director of news content, Richard Burgess, said: 'I don't think we should overplay the UK's contribution to what's happening in Israel.' READ MORE: 'Hold its head in shame': Gary Lineker hits out at BBC for dropping Gaza documentary The Guardian has published three comment pieces – by Jeremy Corbyn MP, Bradford University professor Paul Rogers and commentator Owen Jones – and a joint signatory letter, all of which have made brief reference to the spy flights. In hard news, however, the newspaper has barely acknowledged the existence of the flights: confined to one line in a Patrick Wintour story on Foreign Office staff being told to resign after challenging UK policy on Gaza, and a mention of '500 surveillance flights' in response to the activities of Palestine Action. The i paper ran a single story in October 2024 stating that 'British military aircraft have reportedly flown hundreds of reconnaissance missions over Gaza in the past year to gather intelligence for Israel' but, like so many other news outlets, has not returned in any meaningful way to the topic since. Deafening silence DESPITE official acknowledgement that the flights continue to take place, and despite multiple questions raised in Parliament by concerned MPs such as Jeremy Corbyn, Shockat Adam, Scott Arthur, Brendan O'Hara and Calvin Bailey, the silence on the intelligence-gathering nature of the spy flights has been deafening. It's hard to reconcile this silence with the energy with which mainstream media have investigated Russian spy planes flying over Ukraine and other military manoeuvres related to Putin's invasion. It is all the more hypocritical considering their claim to be watchdogs scrutinising Government actions. Only recently, Katharine Viner, the editor of The Guardian, wrote about her paper's record in 'scrutinising power with complete independence for decades'. In reality, it's precisely the opposite. Leading news organisations are amplifying MoD talking points and Foreign Office priorities but then remaining quiet and toeing the line when it comes to identifying potential military support for Israel's genocide. This is similar to the total lack of critical voices in their reporting of the defence review announced last month by Keir Starmer. READ MORE: 111 BBC journalists demand change at top as Israel-Palestine reporting 'crippled' Out of 993 stories on the 'defence review' in UK media on June 2, a tiny handful took the time even to acknowledge the existence of significant public opposition to increases in defence spending, particularly at the expense of cuts to public services. The vast majority of published criticism of Labour's defence plans come from the Conservatives, or military voices arguing 'this is too little, too late' or that it isn't clear where the money will come from. There is, apparently, no space for hard news content that investigates whether increased defence spending is either effective or necessary. Meanwhile, the mainstream media's continuing silence on RAF spy flights over Gaza is a flagrant abdication of their stated responsibility to ask tough questions of military planners. Far from holding power to account, mainstream media – through their silence and meekness – are allowing the UK Government to get away with murder in Gaza. Des Freedman is a professor of media and communications at Goldsmiths, University of London and a founding member of the Media Reform Coalition
The National
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
UK 'currently' training Israel soldiers on UK soil, Labour admit
The news came in response to a written question at Westminster, put in by Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell. Maskell asked 'when the last time was that a member of the Israel Defense Forces was trained by the UK armed forces'. In a response published on Wednesday, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard admitted that the UK was 'currently' training IDF soldiers in the UK. READ MORE: David Pratt: Donald Trump is reshaping democracy for authoritarians at a rapid pace Pollard said: 'As part of routine defence engagement with Israel, the UK is currently training a limited number of Israel Defense Forces personnel on UK-based training courses.' The news comes despite the Labour Government sanctioning two Israeli ministers – Itamar Ben-Gvir, the security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister. The UK Government has also continued to send military equipment to Israel, and has declined to block exports of parts for F-35 fighter jets despite evidence that they have been used in Gaza. Further, the UK has continued sending spy plane flights over Gaza in missions they say are run to provide Israel with information that could help to recover hostages held by Hamas. READ MORE: David Pratt: Israel's arming of Gaza's crime gangs is sure to backfire Maskell also brought up the flights with the UK Government. She asked: 'When the last time was that his Department provided the (a) Israeli government and (b) Israel Defense Forces with surveillance data of Gaza from Royal Air Force planes.' Pollard in his response referred only to previous answers in which he said: 'The UK controls what information is passed to Israeli authorities. 'Surveillance information of Gaza is passed to the relevant Israeli authorities only where it relates to hostage rescue and where we are satisfied that it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law. 'I am unable to comment further on detailed intelligence matters.' Israel is credibly accused of committing genocide in Palestine with its now 19-month assault on Gaza. On Thursday, the Gaza Health Ministry said the number of Palestinians killed by Israel had passed 55,000. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted for arrest for alleged war crimes (Image: PA) The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but has said that women and children make up more than half the dead. The ministry says 55,104 people have been killed since the start of the war and 127,394 wounded. Many more are believed to be buried under the rubble or in areas that are inaccessible to local medics. Israeli forces have destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced about 90% of its population and in recent weeks have transformed more than half of the coastal territory into a military buffer zone that includes the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah. A two-and-a-half-month blockade imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas raised fears of famine and was slightly eased in May. The launch of a new Israeli and US-backed aid system has been marred by chaos and violence, and the UN says it has struggled to bring in food because of Israeli restrictions, a breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting. Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid, but the UN and aid groups deny there is any systematic diversion of aid to militants.
Toronto Star
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Indigenous leaders again left out of first ministers meeting as tensions grow
OTTAWA - The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is warning the provinces and Ottawa it 'may not end well' if they make decisions about major infrastructure projects at the upcoming first ministers meeting without First Nations involvement. First Nations leaders in Ontario, meanwhile, have a rally planned for Monday at Queen's Park to protest the provincial government's controversial Bill 5, legislation meant to speed up development. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the lack of First Nations representation at the first ministers' table is 'very disrespectful.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Assembly of First Nations has long called for its inclusion at first ministers meetings but has only been able to secure secondary meetings with prime ministers ahead of the official meetings. Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice Chief David Pratt says governments should 'smarten up' and warns that it's 'not good business to offend and disrespect us so that we have to blockade.' He says governments should view First Nations as 'equal partners around the table,' adding that if First Nations were in decision-making positions and proposed developments in their cities, 'MPs would be up in arms.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Indigenous leaders again left out of first ministers meeting as tensions grow
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak speaks during a new conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA — The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is warning the provinces and Ottawa it 'may not end well' if they make decisions about major infrastructure projects at the upcoming first ministers meeting without First Nations involvement. First Nations leaders in Ontario, meanwhile, have a rally planned for Monday at Queen's Park to protest the provincial government's controversial Bill 5, legislation meant to speed up development. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the lack of First Nations representation at the first ministers' table is 'very disrespectful.' The Assembly of First Nations has long called for its inclusion at first ministers meetings but has only been able to secure secondary meetings with prime ministers ahead of the official meetings. Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice Chief David Pratt says governments should 'smarten up' and warns that it's 'not good business to offend and disrespect us so that we have to blockade.' He says governments should view First Nations as 'equal partners around the table,' adding that if First Nations were in decision-making positions and proposed developments in their cities, 'MPs would be up in arms.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Written by Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indigenous leaders again left out of first ministers meeting as tensions grow
OTTAWA – The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is warning the provinces and Ottawa it 'may not end well' if they make decisions about major infrastructure projects at the upcoming first ministers meeting without First Nations involvement. First Nations leaders in Ontario, meanwhile, have a rally planned for Monday at Queen's Park to protest the provincial government's controversial Bill 5, legislation meant to speed up development. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the lack of First Nations representation at the first ministers' table is 'very disrespectful.' The Assembly of First Nations has long called for its inclusion at first ministers meetings but has only been able to secure secondary meetings with prime ministers ahead of the official meetings. Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice Chief David Pratt says governments should 'smarten up' and warns that it's 'not good business to offend and disrespect us so that we have to blockade.' He says governments should view First Nations as 'equal partners around the table,' adding that if First Nations were in decision-making positions and proposed developments in their cities, 'MPs would be up in arms.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
