Amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza, six Israeli military personnel are currently undergoing training in Britain. However, the Ministry of Defence, led by Grant Shapps, is refusing to disclose any details regarding the nature of their instruction or their specific locations.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has chosen to withhold vital information from Parliament concerning the presence of Israeli military personnel being trained on British soil. In a statement released in February, the government acknowledged the six Israeli Armed Forces officers currently stationed in the UK. They stated that these officers are either part of Israel’s Embassy in the UK or are participating in defence-led training courses.
When Alba MP Kenny MacAskill sought further clarification on the ranks and postings of these personnel, Defence Minister Leo Docherty, acting on behalf of Grant Shapps, abstained from providing any specifics. Docherty justified this decision by stating, “This information is being withheld in order to protect personal information and to avoid prejudicing relations between the United Kingdom and another State”. Moreover, the MoD declined to reveal the number of British military personnel currently based in Israel.
When pressed for more information, Docherty evaded the queries by vaguely declaring, “The UK has a number of Armed Forces personnel across the Middle East, working closely with partners to carry out defence engagement and to uphold regional stability. I cannot go into specifics for operational security purposes.”
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It is evident that the UK government is intentionally restricting the flow of information concerning its support for Israel as the latter engages in severe attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.
The lack of transparency extends to the recent landing of Israeli military aircraft in Britain, with the UK keeping such details under wraps. This deliberate information blackout is likely intended to shield British ministers from potential prosecution for complicity in war crimes.
Limited info
Information shared with elected MPs regarding British military support for Israel remains restricted. In response to MacAskill’s inquiries, the MoD disclosed that the Royal Air Force last conducted joint exercises with the Israeli air force in 2021. Known as Blue Flag, this exercise aimed to push aircrew skills to their limits.
The training took place at Ovda air base near Eilat in southern Israel and involved RAF Typhoon fighters practicing alongside Israeli F35s and F16s, aircraft now actively involved in bombing Gaza.
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Additionally, it has been confirmed that there is no formal treaty obligating the UK to defend Israel. This underscores the voluntary nature of the extensive British military support of Israel. However, details regarding a secret military agreement signed with Israel in December 2020 remain undisclosed, with Docherty maintaining that the agreement is classified at a higher level.