British troops delivering aid - a good idea?

[mids2019]

I feel British troops delivering aid down causeways in Gaza may be helpful from a humanitarian perspective. However aren't those troops a potential terrorist target? I would think the IDF would ultimately make the area safe but I would hate to think there may be some limited conflict.

I also wonder what the optics of British troops being in Gaza (although in a very minor way would be)?

@mids2019 However aren't those troops a potential terrorist target?

Who are you worried will be targeting them?

Anyone who wants to deliver aid while not in an IDF uniform is being pretty brave at this point.

I feel British troops delivering aid down causeways in Gaza may be helpful from a humanitarian perspective

….and unless very carefully managed also opens up the possibility of a member of HM Forces being taken hostage in Gaza by Iranian aligned factions……..

No I don't think it's a good idea to have foreign troops on the ground in Gaza while there is still an active conflict. No matter what their role there is.

Why do you think they need to? There are plenty of qualified humanitarian staff able to do this, lack of staff isn't the issue......

Well we need soldiers for aid delivery as it's an active combat zone. I don't think the IDF would be a threat obviously.

I think it may work but it would have to be a very limited mission scope. I assume you neeð to be military as this is a dangerous environment.

Leaving aside the risk of a direct physical attack on British assets the other issue I can see is that any images of, say, a member in HM Forces in close proximity to a member of the IDF demonstrably in Gaza or a beach or Causeway in Gaza will be ripe for manipulation by those that are into that sort of thing.

If humping or dumping of logistics/supplies dockside is needed then maybe the UN can pull its collective finger out for once and provide some bods….

Well it’s a weird irony considering our Government provides arms to, and supports, the Country causing the starvation and homelessness. Wouldn’t it be more effective to publicly stop backing Israel?

I don't want the British army to be a presence here at all. Surely they can help organise the aid and distribute to humanitarian agencies. Why draw the threat of kidnap. I don't think these moves should be taken without agreement from UK voters.

The British military has loads of experience in delivering humanitarian aid in non-permissive environments, and being totally self-supporting as they do so. Distinctly advantageous in volatile and intermittently dangerous areas, where the local infrastructure and level of supplies is poor.

The mission, as I've heard it described, is closely defined and geographically limited, which should sharply reduce risk of personnel being taken hostage (again, relevant skills to protect against that have been learned in other operational theatres)

However you can never plan against an individual being a total fuckwit. No matter how carefully briefed, you could end up with someone thinking a minor breach of the rules would be harmless, and getting grabbed (common failings; moving to far to get a selfies, thinking an unplanned trip to a market is OK, or trying to find a rumoured bar)

Well as it was the IDF that killed aid workers recently I'd be worried about them!

@notimagain

good points I suppose the IDF and UK forces would have to do operate at some level to make this work; if nothing else to ensure the IDF know our boy's and girl's positions.

The PR of a UK soldier talking to an IDF soldier would be interesting so I wonder if this would be avoided. I think the troop presence may be minimal but symbolic.

Interesting decision.

@mpsw

I think the British armed forces would cope admirably as you say.

I think the interesting point is the optics. The US are obviously not wanting to do this job so it may be us. I wonder if people would support a humanitarian food delivery of would they perceive UK troops in Gaza as inflammatory. (Even in their very limited d role)

UN missions depend on nations contributing troops, on a voluntary basis.

So as the Brits seem to be the most willing volunteer, it would have been us anyhow, but will all the extra admin that comes from acting under international bureaucracy

'obviously'?? Have you missed the bit where the IDF have been killing people who are trying to deliver and distribute aid?

The optics of UK soldiers socialising with and working alongside IDF soldiers would be horrendous.

Intellectually, I can recognise that sometimes military personnel need to work alongside unsavoury people, organisations they wouldn't want to be affiliated with, governments and armed forces with which they disagree.

As someone who has loved ones dying in Gaza at the hands and bombs of the IDF, whose colleagues have been executed by the IDF, who is watching the destruction of a society which I tried in my own small way to help make a bit better... And as someone whose family and other friends have served in our country's armed forces... To watch my own country's military forces smile and laugh with the IDF would feel... Sickening, isolating, dismissive, unjust... To give a few examples. I think it would be hard to feel part of this country again after that.

Gaza needs all the help it can get.
People are starving and getting murdered. Love this short essay from Rabbi Lara Haft
“At this year’s seder, the same war criminals who have forced Palestinian families to flee their homes will lift up their matzah and wax poetic about the Israelites’ rush to escape Egypt. The same politicians who have manufactured a famine in Gaza, leading millions to the brink of starvation, will proudly declare: “Let all who are hungry come and eat.”
https://jewschool.com/let-all-who-are-hungry-come-and-eat-174209

Yep I know, before I hit post I should have completed that final sentence with…” UN can pull its collective finger out for once and provide some bods from a country other than the UK”

I know UK Forces are highly professional and can be very good at this sort of work but personally I can see that there might be scope for mischief in the part of some parties to the conflict.

Based on the recent Hamas mortar attack on the construction of of the aid jetty I would be most worried about Hamas attacking the deliveries in order to try and stop the aid coming in, attacking and killing British soldiers or trying to kidnap British soldiers to put pressure on the UK Government.

www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2024/04/25/us-led-gaza-humanitarian-aid-pier-comes-under-fire-un-officials-say/

Israel has killed 200 aid workers In 6 months. So to me they’re a threat to the aid workers

@EasterIssland

The point OP was raising was that the IDF would not be a threat to British solders delivering aid rather than IDF being a threat to aid workers in general.

Given the recent Hamas mortar attack on the construction of the jetty for bringing in aid, British soldiers would be at far more risk from Hamas.

I'm so sick of these wind up threads. The faux, well of course the IDF who have killed more aid workers in 6 months than have been killed in all wars in the past 30 years combined wouldn't be a threat to people bringing in aid, what a ridiculous thought. Are you just anti Israel and want to give everyone a chance to once again point out Israels war crimes?

Why wouldn’t it be a threat to British soldiers ? Have you forgotten how 7 people were killed this month despite they had arranged everything with idf so that it could be safe for them? You just need someone in charge that thinks they had seen something that in reality is not happening and a few British soldiers killed. Palestine isn’t safe for anyone

@EasterIssland

Of course it is entirely possible that mistakes can be made and procedures not followed that could result in British soldiers being accidentally killed by the IDF. However the IDF would clearly not deliberately target British soldiers.

Whereas Hamas has recently mortared the construction of the aid jetty.

In your opinion would British soldiers be at more risk from being attacked by Hamas, IDF or about the same?

Same.

I agree @1dayatatime

The IDF will not attack the British Army, and will have no grounds at all to think that a single nation UK humanitarian delivery force is providing cover for Hamas operations.

I really hope that aid does get through.

But it's both unpredictable and volatile, and the British operation is certainly not risk-free