UK Accuses Israel of Spying on Military Personnel in West Bank
The United Kingdom has accused Israeli intelligence services of monitoring British military personnel and intercepting their communications in the West Bank. The British Support Team, comprised of about ten soldiers and led by a lieutenant colonel, was based in Ramallah. Its official mission was to train Palestinian Authority security forces, working alongside American and Canadian military personnel within the framework of the U.S. Security Coordinator. However, the team also gathered information on the ground in Judea and Samaria, acting as "eyes and ears" for Western countries, according to a British Ministry of Defense source. This information, particularly concerning incidents involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians, was reportedly passed to London and Washington.
British officials claim that Israeli intelligence services intercepted the communications of these soldiers, showing particular interest in reports about the situation in Judea and Samaria and settler-related incidents. One source told The Telegraph that Israel was allegedly "listening to everything," including materials prepared for partners. These allegations have not yet been independently confirmed.
This alleged spying incident follows a previous report in December 2025 by The Guardian, which claimed Israel had surveilled American and other foreign military personnel at an international coordination center in Kiryat Gat. The Israeli military (IDF) dismissed those claims as "absurd."
The escalating dispute has been further intensified by Israel's decision to order the British Support Team to cease operations and leave the region within seven days. This move effectively halts plans to expand the unit, which London had intended to quadruple in size. British sources suggest this closure will deprive Western nations of a key intelligence-gathering channel in Judea and Samaria.
Israel's decision to disband the British unit is reportedly part of a broader diplomatic response to recent actions by the UK. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced new measures against Israel, including restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria. Miliband also supported accusations of "ethnic cleansing" by radical settlers against Palestinians, which Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called "outrageous lies." In retaliation, Israel closed the British consulate in Jerusalem, banned 12 British citizens, including former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, from entering the country, and restricted British presence at the international headquarters in Kiryat Gat. The conflict signifies a dangerous phase in Israeli-British relations, extending beyond political statements into military cooperation and intelligence sharing.
