23-05-2025
'Statements' won't stop UK complicity in Israel's violence in Gaza
Glasgow University's rector, Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah, and independent MP Jeremy Corbyn both accused the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary of being 'complicit in the mass murder of Palestinians' after the UK Government sent the plane to surveil Gaza just hours after David Lammy described Israel's actions in the region as 'monstrous'.
Shortly after Lammy made the statement calling out Israel for stopping aid entering Gaza and for its ongoing bombardment of Palestinians, The National reported on how the UK Government sent a Shadow R1 spy plane – coded RFR7144 – from the Cyprus base RAF Akrotiri to monitor Gaza.
The RAF describes Shadow R1 planes as being capable of 'comprehensive intelligence gathering' that is 'particularly valuable to ground commanders'.
Lammy also said that the UK Government would continue to supply F-35 parts to Israel following the announcement that Labour had ended talks towards a free trade deal with the country.
Corbyn told The National: 'The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary can make as many statements regretting Israel's offensive as they like.
'Until this government ends its military co-operation with Israel, it remains complicit in the mass murder of Palestinians.
"What more is there to say?'
Meanwhile Abu-Sittah, a world-leading expert on war-injured patients and children, condemned Labour for increasing the export of weapons in the latter months of 2024.
The National reported last week that in the last quarter of 2024, the Labour Government exported more weapons to Israel than the Tories did from 2020-2023.
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The total was more than the Tories had licensed for export to Israel between 2020-2023 combined, but Lammy dismissed the figures in a report by The National as 'clickbait'.
'The UK Government is a willing and eager partner in the genocide,' he said.
'The Labour Party increased its contribution of arms to genocide so that more starving Palestinian children are slaughtered by UK manufactured weapons.'
Earlier this week, the Labour administration said information gathered by the British spy plane would only be shared if it was deemed relevant to securing the release of hostages held by Hamas within the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Starmer responded to SNP MP Kirsty Blackman on why Labour are sending fighter jet parts to Israel by saying that they could not block the exports without jeopardising UK military operations elsewhere.
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
