In recent months, Israeli military aircraft have been spotted landing at a major UK air base, raising concerns about the possible transfer of arms amid growing international scrutiny. DeclassifiedUK has uncovered details of at least three Israeli Air Force (IAF) transport flights from the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) main base at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, in October and November 2024.
Two of these flights, on October 13 and November 28, were reported to have landed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, USA, while a third flight arrived from Dover on November 20 before continuing on to Nevatim, Israel’s primary air force base. The exact origin of the first two flights remains unclear, as does the length of time the Israeli aircraft spent in the UK.
The flights have raised suspicions about the nature of their cargo, with many speculating that they may have been carrying advanced US-made weaponry. Israeli aircraft, specifically Boeing 707 transports, are known for long-haul freight flights and have reportedly carried significant arms supplies from the US to Israel, particularly after the escalation in Gaza. Protests at Dover have been staged in opposition to what many believe is the US’s complicity in the ongoing conflict.
This incident marks just one example of Israeli aircraft operations in the UK. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that nine IAF aircraft had entered and exited British airspace since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. However, the MoD has declined to disclose any information about the cargo on these flights, citing operational security concerns.
The secrecy surrounding these flights raises serious questions about the UK’s role in potentially supporting Israeli military operations. Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, criticized the UK government’s lack of transparency, warning that the ongoing secrecy only fuels suspicions of complicity in Israel’s military actions. “The total secrecy surrounding these flights just highlights that the government knows the levels of legitimate outrage that would break out if this was more widely known,” he told DeclassifiedUK.
The UK’s involvement in arming Israel is not a new development. Reports from Israeli media have indicated that British and US transport planes have used RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to send military equipment, arms, and personnel to Israel. DeclassifiedUK recently uncovered evidence suggesting over 50 tonnes of US-made arms were secretly flown through UK airspace bound for Israel. Additionally, the RAF has reportedly conducted surveillance flights over Gaza to support Israeli intelligence operations.
Despite ongoing concerns, the UK government continues to avoid public commentary on the issue. The Ministry of Defence’s official position is to neither confirm nor deny the details of foreign military aircraft movements. This policy of silence, combined with the highly sensitive nature of the cargo, has led to growing speculation that the UK is deeply involved in providing military aid to Israel, raising questions about its role in the broader conflict.
