The British government faces renewed scrutiny over the nature of its military cooperation with Israel after it emerged that it is spending taxpayers’ money to hire American contractors for surveillance flights over Gaza.

It was revealed last week that aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF) have conducted hundreds of surveillance flights over Gaza throughout Israel’s war on the besieged enclave.

Middle East Eye asked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) under the Freedom of Information Act whether it holds video footage taken by RAF planes of two Israeli attacks in Gaza on British citizens or volunteers working for British charities.

The MoD refused to disclose the information, citing national security and defence exemptions.

One of the Israeli strikes MEE asked about killed eight volunteers working for the UK charity Al-Khair Foundation in March as they were setting up tents for displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahia.

The MoD has previously confirmed it holds information gathered by spy planes on Israeli attacks, and has been widely criticised for not disclosing it.

  • Davriellelouna@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Daily reminder that the Middle East Eye has no physical address. Which is extremely unusual.

    That’s because it’s run by the Qatari embassy in London.

    Notice how it doesn’t depend on paying subscribers. It doesn’t sell any advertising. And it doesn’t ask readers for donations. How do they make any money? This is a serious red flag.

    When Qatar was in a diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia, the Middle East Eye criticized Saudi Arabia 24/7.

    • mannycalavera@feddit.uk
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      4 days ago

      Daily reminder that the Middle East Eye has no physical address.

      You realise this is fairly trivial to look up? Not sure what you get from posting misinformation? Maybe a foot massage…?

      https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08803692

      It’s run by the Qatari embassy in London.

      A claim that they deny, for balance.

      the MEE criticized Saudi Arabia 24/7.

      What exactly is your point? Were the criticisms valid?

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        What exactly is your point?

        Obviously, the Saudis have always been beyond repute and the very fact that a Middle Eastern publication would criticize them means it can be dismissed without further thought.

      • Davriellelouna@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        What exactly is your point? Were the criticisms valid?

        The timing was strangely suspicious.

        Shutting down the Middle East Eye was part of the demands of Saudi Arabia and the UAE during their embargo on Qatar:

        https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/23/close-al-jazeera-saudi-arabia-issues-qatar-with-13-demands-to-end-blockade

        You realise this is fairly trivial to look up?

        Why do we have to dig into company houses to find their address ? What kind of newspaper doesn’t post their address on their website? I have never seen this. It’s very unusual.

        Also, what’s their business model? The 3 models of revenue for newspaper are :

        • Subscriptions

        • Advertising

        • Asking for donations

        They don’t have any subscriptions. They don’t have ads. They don’t ask any donations.

        Where is the money coming from?

        • Maeve@kbin.earth
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          4 days ago

          Yes they should be read with a critical eye, much like any news outlet. Daily reminder KSA kidnapped, drew and quartered a resident US reporter alive, with the full foreknowledge and blessing of the USA. So what exactly is your purpose in telling us what we already know?

          • TWeaK@feddit.uk
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            3 days ago

            To add to your reminder, they almost certainly used Israeli hacking technology, licensed and approved by the Israeli government as an arms export. Specifically the NSO’s Pegasus toolkit. Jamal Khashoggi’s devices were never recovered, but his wife’s, his lawyer’s, and several of his friends’ devices were examined and found to have been infected.

            • Maeve@kbin.earth
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              3 days ago

              Yes, I forgot about that, thanks for reminding me. Everyone should drop any defcom that has anything to do with this illegal “state” and realize nothing Israel does is in anyone’s best interest. The tail is quickly becoming the dog.

        • IcyToes@sh.itjust.works
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          11 hours ago

          Every news organisation is biased.

          You cannot expect unbiased news. You just have to be aware and read multiple sources. They could still raise very valid points.

          Many billionaires own newspapers, so yeah, if we’re following external funding, you’ll be very busy.