Britain flew as many as 116 secret surveillance missions over Gaza that the UK government never disclosed, using American contractors and spy planes based in Cyprus to gather intelligence it shared with Israel in real time, according to a documentary published Thursday by Declassified UK.
The UK Ministry of Defence now refuses to hand over footage from one of those flights – taken on the day an Israeli airstrike killed British aid worker James Henderson and six international colleagues delivering food in Gaza.
The documentary exposes the hidden scale of Britain’s intelligence operation supporting Israel’s war, run from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, a 40-minute flight from Tel Aviv.
Journalists Phil Miller and Alex Morris captured the first footage of an American spy plane – leased by the RAF – taking off from the base to fly reconnaissance over Gaza. Britain switched to American contractors this year after flying hundreds of earlier missions itself.
Sources told Declassified the planes beam high-resolution radar images directly to Israel as they fly.
“I really do believe they were deliberately targeted”
Henderson, a former royal marine, was riding in a World Central Kitchen convoy on 1 April 2024 when Israeli forces struck. The attack killed all seven aid workers in the vehicles.
An RAF surveillance plane filmed Gaza that day. The MoD holds the footage but won’t release it, citing national security.
Henderson’s father Neil can’t accept that explanation.
“I can’t understand how that footage can affect British security,” he told Declassified. He called the MoD’s refusal “an insult”.
“If it was released, it would give us a far better understanding of what was happening on the ground,” he said. “I think it would prove that Israelis were watching them…I really do believe they were deliberately targeted.”
The MoD blocked a second request for surveillance footage in August. Middle East Eye asked under Freedom of Information laws for video from two Israeli attacks that killed British citizens or volunteers working for British charities.
The ministry refused again, citing national security, according to Declassified UK.
One attack in March killed eight volunteers from UK charity Al-Khair Foundation. Israeli forces struck as the volunteers pitched tents for displaced Palestinians in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza.
“They’re off on a death run”
The UK MoD insists its surveillance flights support only “hostage rescue” efforts. But Steve Masters, a former RAF technician, said Britain can’t control what Israel does with the intelligence.
The footage “could have just as easily been used for general target acquisition”, Masters told the film.
The documentary also shows Cypriots are pushing back against the British base on their soil. It features local protesters surrounding RAF Akrotiri.
Cypriot politician Melanie Steliou walked Miller and Morris around the perimeter of the British facility.
“The thought that every time a plane leaves, people could be dead and children could be dead… It’s heartbreaking and infuriating,” she said.
“And they’re taking off from here! They’re off on a death run.”
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