LONDON: In a concerted effort, the United Kingdom’s Special Air Squad (SAS) is coordinating with the elite Israeli Sayeret Matkal and the US Delta Force to prepare for a potential rescue operation aimed at liberating British civilians held captive by Hamas in Gaza, as reported by the British newspaper, The i.
Multiple military sources have divulged that the SAS is working closely with their Israeli and American counterparts to strategize the rescue of more than 200 hostages of various nationalities who are believed to be concealed in hideouts and tunnels controlled by Hamas.
A shift in the readiness of UK special forces has been observed, triggered by recent developments in southern Israel, according to an inside source. This change has prompted a high state of preparedness within the SAS.
The i’s report also notes that UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has publicly confirmed the government’s belief that up to 10 British nationals are currently held hostage in Gaza. This revelation underscores the urgency and significance of the collaborative efforts underway.
The history of hostage-rescue missions conducted by UK special forces since 2011 has been scarce, with only three such operations reported. These missions took place in Kenya, Nigeria, and Yemen. During the same period, six intelligence-gathering deployments were executed, including one in Ukraine before Russia’s invasion the previous year.
An expert opinion provided by Justin Crump, a military veteran and the chief executive of the security and intelligence group Sibylline, suggests that Hamas has intentionally scattered the hostages throughout the Gaza territory. This strategy is designed to make it challenging for any potential rescue attempt. Notably, Hamas is keen on maintaining the hostages’ well-being by providing them with food, water, and medical care, as they are considered valuable “bargaining chips” for future negotiations with Israel.
