THE UK Government has ended its spy flights over Gaza, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
British surveillance aircraft have carried out more than 500 flights over Gaza since December 2023, sharing the intelligence gathered with Israel.
The MoD insisted the operations carried out by Shadow R1 aircraft based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus were “tasked solely to locate hostages” taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
However, pro-Palestine campaigners have long-criticised the flights, suggesting the intelligence gathered could be used in Israel's genocide in Gaza, which has killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians.
With the agreement of a peace plan on Monday that brought the release of the 20 remaining living hostages, the MoD has now said the flights have ended.
The MoD said the last flight took place on October 10, three days before the peace deal was formally signed.
READ MORE: How UK media are covering up British spy flights for Israel
Defence Secretary John Healey said he was" proud" of the UK's role in "supporting the safe return of the hostages".
He added: “The safe return of all hostages, along with the immediate restoration of aid, are critical first steps in efforts to securing a lasting peace.”
While the Labour Government has ended the spy flights, the UK Government continues to export arms to Israel despite the ongoing genocide.
In fact, UK arms exports to Israel hit a "record high" in recent months, recent analysis from Channel 4 found.
As of July, the Labour Government still has more than 300 arms exports licences with Israel.
The MoD has maintained that the surveillance aircraft were “always unarmed” and had no combat role.
The department added that it had “strictly controlled” what was provided to Israeli authorities, with “only information relating to hostage rescue” being passed on.
This led to accusations the UK Government is "turning a blind eye" to Israel's atrocities in Gaza, which ministers denied.
Commenting, Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie said: “The UK sending spy planes to aid the state of Israel is evidence of active participation in, and enabling of, genocide.
“Those involved in the flights cannot claim to be unaware of the atrocities that Palestinians have been subjected to over the past two years, and yet our government at Westminster still refuses to acknowledge that Israel has been carrying out genocide.”
Harvie added: “One day, the Israeli leaders who have committed genocide and war crimes will be held accountable. I hope that any UK minister who has stood by them over the last two years and used UK intelligence to help them will stand beside them in the dock.”
The SNP have been contacted for comment.
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