in-cyprus 11 January 2025 - by Fanis Makrides
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on the Foreign Office to reveal the extent of RAF Akrotiri’s involvement in Israel’s military operations in Gaza, amid growing scrutiny over the British base’s role in supporting Israeli F-35 fighter jets.
In a letter to the Foreign Office reported by The Morning Star, Corbyn demanded transparency about the base’s potential role in weapons transfers to Israel and questioned the number of US Air Force flights conducted from the facility in support of operations against Palestinians.
“We must know the full extent of our government’s complicity and involvement in the genocide“, Corbyn wrote in his letter, which followed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s Christmas visit to the base.
The independent MP also criticised the British government’s position on F-35 component licensing after Foreign Secretary David Lammy acknowledged the aircraft’s use may violate international humanitarian law.
Corbyn warned ministers they could be held liable under international law for providing weapons to a government whose leader, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, faces war crimes allegations.
The controversy has intensified following reports by Middle East Eye that RAF Akrotiri may be supporting Israeli F-35 operations.
The news platform reported that legal challenges worldwide are questioning the legitimacy of the international supply chain maintaining Israeli F-35s operating over Gaza and Lebanon.
The British Ministry of Defence has previously declined to comment on foreign military aircraft movements at RAF Akrotiri, citing operational security concerns.
During his December visit to Cyprus, Prime Minister Starmer acknowledged the base’s “sensitive work” but said it could not be fully discussed publicly.
The Morning Star article highlights ongoing legal battles in several countries, including the Netherlands, where courts have already halted F-35 parts transfers to Israel since February, raising questions about compliance with international humanitarian law.
