Recent revelations and leaks have placed Israel and its facilitators in different Western countries under intense scrutiny, with multiple allegations emerging in recent days which could severely impact its international relations and military support.
From humanitarian blockades in Gaza to accusations of espionage and violations of Irish airspace, these incidents highlight growing tensions between Israel and its Western allies, including the US, UK, and Ireland.
US Aid to Israel questioned amid humanitarian blockade in Gaza
A memo from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which was leaked, has revealed that Israel has deliberately obstructed the delivery of US-backed food and medical aid to Gaza, one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The USAID findings, shared with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in April, accused Israel of preventing essential supplies from reaching Gaza, which is suffering from severe shortages of food and medicine. The memo cited Israeli interference, including airstrikes on aid facilities, blockades of food shipments, and bureaucratic delays.
The US Foreign Assistance Act mandates a freeze on military aid to countries which obstruct humanitarian assistance, especially aid provided by the US. This could affect $830 million in US arms sales to Israel.
However, despite the evidence presented by USAID, Blinken rejected the findings, stating in a May report to Congress that Israel was not obstructing US aid deliveries. This decision came after heated internal debate within the Biden administration, with officials from the State Department’s Refugees Bureau urging a halt to military aid.
Human rights advocates and experts argue that the situation in Gaza remains dire, with widespread hunger, children dying from starvation, and the first confirmed case of polio in 25 years. While US officials claim Israel has made commitments to facilitate aid, experts assert that the flow of supplies remains severely inadequate, prompting concerns over the Biden administration’s handling of military aid to Israel amid growing international outcry over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Boris Johnson accuses Netanyahu of spying
In a separate controversy, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of espionage during a high-profile meeting in 2017. According to an excerpt from Johnson’s forthcoming memoir 'Unleashed', a covert listening device was found in the bathroom of the British Foreign Office shortly after Netanyahu abruptly excused himself from using it during their meeting. This explosive claim raises serious questions about Israel’s intelligence activities in the UK.
While Johnson’s tone in the memoir is characteristically lighthearted, the seriousness of an allied nation potentially engaging in espionage on British soil cannot be dismissed. Espionage between friendly nations is rare but not unheard of, and this incident, involving two high-ranking leaders, could strain diplomatic relations between Israel and the UK.
There has been no official response from Israel on the allegations, and Johnson himself has remained tight-lipped about the full details, suggesting the matter may have been quietly resolved behind closed doors. However, the timing of this revelation, amid rising tensions in West Asia, adds another layer of complexity to already strained international relations with Israel.
Irish investigation into alleged munitions flights to Israel
Meanwhile, in Ireland, the Department of Transport has launched an investigation into claims that a civil air operator flew munitions through Irish airspace en route to Israel.
According to the Irish news outlet ‘The Ditch’ a cargo flight transporting weapons allegedly crossed Irish airspace earlier this year. The Department of Transport confirmed that no exemptions for the transport of weapons of war were granted in 2023 or 2024, raising concerns that the flight may have violated Irish law.
Under Irish regulations, the transportation of weapons through its airspace is prohibited unless specific exemptions are granted by the transport minister. The department is currently engaging with the airline to determine whether any breaches occurred. If proven true, the incident could stir diplomatic tensions between Ireland and Israel, particularly as the latter faces increasing international scrutiny over its military actions in Gaza and its treatment of humanitarian aid efforts.