Coercion in Gaza: British Intelligence’s Exploitation of Citizens
Watan-The British website “Middle East Eye” revealed that the British intelligence agency (MI6) exploits its citizens stranded in the Gaza Strip to gather information.
The website recounted the story of an English citizen stranded in Rafah with his small family. The British intelligence offered to help them escape from Gaza on the condition that he agrees to work for the espionage agency.
The man, who refused the offer, now fears that his displaced family is in imminent danger of an expected Israeli attack, with the humanitarian crisis worsening day by day.
Gareth Pierce, a prominent partner in the law firm representing the stranded family in Rafah, stated that the firm has done everything possible to repatriate them.
He added: “At every step, the Foreign Office was saying there was nothing they could do.”
“Our argument was that what the Foreign Office was saying couldn’t be true. They are able to extract any family member by providing practical assistance. Although they say they can’t do anything practically, the intelligence agency was saying the opposite just six weeks ago,” the British citizen who lived in Gaza for the past decade explained.
Earlier in the conflict, the British citizen received a message via a phone messaging app from someone claiming to work for MI5, the British military intelligence agency.
The man requested help in sorting out his family’s documents to get them out of Rafah. The caller responded that his ability to assist the family was contingent on the man agreeing to work for the intelligence agency.
Israeli readiness to invade Rafah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced at a press conference that he had instructed the occupation army to move into Rafah Province and two locations in central Gaza.
Israeli media revealed that Netanyahu’s orders to prepare for a military operation in Rafah sparked disagreements between him and the occupation army.
Political analyst Yaron Avraham of Israeli Channel 12 stated that Netanyahu recently discussed with the Chief of Staff the continuation of the military operation, highlighting a disagreement over occupying Rafah.
While Netanyahu is pressing the army to find quick solutions, Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi emphasizes the need to secure favorable conditions such as evacuating the area and coordinating with Egypt.
