UK to conduct surveillance flights over Gaza to provide intelligence to Israel

LONDON

The UK will conduct surveillance flights above Israel and Gaza to provide intelligence to Tel Aviv as part of hostage rescue efforts, according to the British Defense Ministry.

Surveillance aircraft "will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate hostages," it said in a statement.

"Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue," the ministry noted.

The ministry underlined that the UK government had been "working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals, who have been kidnapped" since an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct.7.

"The safety of British nationals is our utmost priority," it added.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz.